orbit

[ awr-bit ]

/ ˈɔr bɪt /

noun

the curved path, usually elliptical, described by a planet, satellite, spaceship, etc., around a celestial body, as the sun.

the usual course of one's life or range of one's activities.

the sphere of power or influence, as of a nation or person: a small nation in the Russian orbit.

Physics. (in Bohr theory) the path traced by an electron revolving around the nucleus of an atom.

an orb or sphere.

Anatomy.

the bony cavity of the skull that contains the eye; eye socket.
the eye.

Zoology. the part surrounding the eye of a bird or insect.

verb (used with object)

to move or travel around in an orbital or elliptical path: The earth orbits the sun once every 365.25 days.

to send into orbit, as a satellite.

verb (used without object)

to go or travel in an orbit.

Origin of orbit

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin orbita wheel track, course, circuit

OTHER WORDS FROM orbit

or·bit·ar·y, adjective non·or·bit·ing, adjective

Words nearby orbit

orbicular muscle of mouth, orbicular zone, orbiculare, orbiculate, orbison, orbit, orbita, orbital, orbital angular momentum, orbital cavity, orbital gyrus

Example sentences from the Web for orbit

Each CAP, also known as an “orbit,” consists on four aircraft.

Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says |Dave Majumdar |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Orion will orbit Earth twice before splashing down off the California coast.

To Infinity and Beyond! NASA’s Orion Mission Blasts Off |Matthew R. Francis |December 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
You are, for example, still subject to earthly gravity, and not in orbit.

Sky Wars: Richard Branson’s Rival in the Great Space Race |Tom Sykes |October 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Seasons on Earth and Titan are both due to the tilt of their axis—the way the North Pole faces—relative to their orbit.

A Cloud Forms Over Saturn’s Mysterious Moon |Matthew R. Francis |August 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

He said he considered himself honored to have worked in the orbit of the late Nelson Mandela and considered him a mentor.

African Arms-Maker to Obama: Give War a Chance! |Eli Lake |August 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In all such cases, if the projectile was lodged in the orbit, the eye was removed together with the projectile.

The Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt |James W. Barrett
She only entered Mrs. Forrester's orbit, that was evident, as a tiny satellite in attendance on the streaming comet.

Tante |Anne Douglas Sedgwick
Each brain comes clothed with its own secret, having its own orbit, attaining its own unique experience.

A Man's Value to Society |Newell Dwight Hillis
Those ships have been put out in orbit, where we're hooked on to one of them.

Pariah Planet |Murray Leinster
As we revolve in our orbit we approach or recede any given star, and our rate of motion being known we thus obtain a second test.

The Beauties of Nature |Sir John Lubbock

British Dictionary definitions for orbit

orbit

/ (ˈɔːbɪt) /

noun

astronomy the curved path, usually elliptical, followed by a planet, satellite, comet, etc, in its motion around another celestial body under the influence of gravitation

a range or field of action or influence; sphere he is out of my orbit

anatomy the bony cavity containing the eyeball Nontechnical name: eye socket

zoology

the skin surrounding the eye of a bird
the hollow in which lies the eye or eyestalk of an insect or other arthropod

physics the path of an electron in its motion around the nucleus of an atom

verb

to move around (a body) in a curved path, usually circular or elliptical

(tr) to send (a satellite, spacecraft, etc) into orbit

(intr) to move in or as if in an orbit

Word Origin for orbit

C16: from Latin orbita course, from orbis circle, orb

Medical definitions for orbit

orbit

[ ôr′bĭt ]

n.

orbital cavity

Scientific definitions for orbit

orbit

[ ôr′bĭt ]

Noun

The path followed by a celestial body or artificial satellite as it revolves around another body due to the force of gravity. Orbits are nearly elliptical or circular in shape and are very closely approximated by Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

One complete revolution of such a body. See Note at solar system.

A stable quantum state of an electron (or other particle) in motion around an atomic nucleus. See more at orbital.

Either of two bony hollows in the skull containing the eye and its associated structures.

Verb

To move in an orbit around another body.

To put into an orbit, as a satellite is put into orbit around the Earth.

Cultural definitions for orbit

orbit

In astronomy, the path followed by an object revolving around another object, under the influence of gravitation (see satellite). In physics, the path followed by an electron within an atom. The planets follow elliptical orbits around the sun (see ellipse).

notes for orbit

Informally, something is “in orbit” when its actions are controlled by an external agency or force: “The countries of eastern Europe were once in the orbit of the Soviet Union.”

Idioms and Phrases with orbit

orbit

see in orbit.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

orbit

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of orbit

OTHER WORDS FROM orbit

Words nearby orbit

Example sentences from the Web for orbit

British Dictionary definitions for orbit

noun

verb

Word Origin for orbit

Medical definitions for orbit

n.

Scientific definitions for orbit

Noun

Verb

Cultural definitions for orbit

notes for orbit

Idioms and Phrases with orbit

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

orbit

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of orbit

OTHER WORDS FROM orbit

Words nearby orbit

Words related to orbit

Example sentences from the Web for orbit

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noun

verb

Word Origin for orbit

Medical definitions for orbit

n.

Scientific definitions for orbit

Noun

Verb

Cultural definitions for orbit

notes for orbit

Idioms and Phrases with orbit

British Dictionary definitions for orbit