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 orbiting

Small red stars vastly outnumber their larger cousins, and the new exoplanet is orbiting one of those.

What Does the Discovery of “Another Earth” Mean for Us? |Matthew R. Francis |April 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Just as Egyptian fighter jets are orbiting Cairo in a show of strength, the Iranian air force did the same in early February 1979.

How the U.S. Will Lose Egypt |Geoffrey Wawro |January 31, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
THE UFO Australian pilot reports something “just orbiting on top of me” before vanishing.

Before 447: Seven Other Plane-Crash Mysteries |The Daily Beast |June 5, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
Dane rode out the orbiting in the Com-tech's seat, listening in for the first warning of danger—that they had been detected.

Plague Ship |Andre Norton

High precision electronic eyes placed on orbiting satellites picked up the firing of the rocket and the launch parameters.

The Civilization of Illiteracy |Mihai Nadin
Two ships which had been orbiting the planet also changed course and started out.

Space Viking |Henry Beam Piper
Now, Herc, on the air, you're orbiting the fourth planet of a sun.

Subspace Survivors |E. E. Smith
He might have time to collect all the orbiting cargo before he got dangerously close to spillthrough.

Spillthrough |Daniel F. Galouye

British Dictionary definitions for orbiting

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 orbiting

orbit

[ ôr′bĭt ]

n.

orbital cavity

Scientific definitions for orbiting

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 orbiting

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 orbiting

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 orbiting

British Dictionary definitions for orbiting

noun

verb

Word Origin for orbit

Medical definitions for orbiting

n.

Scientific definitions for orbiting

Noun

Verb

Cultural definitions for orbiting

notes for orbit

Idioms and Phrases with orbiting

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 orbiting

Example sentences from the Web for orbiting

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for orbiting

noun

verb

Word Origin for orbit

Medical definitions for orbiting

n.

Scientific definitions for orbiting

Noun

Verb

Cultural definitions for orbiting

notes for orbit

Idioms and Phrases with orbiting

British Dictionary definitions for orbiting