orbit

[ awr-bit ]
See synonyms for orbit on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the curved path, usually elliptical, taken by a planet, satellite, spaceship, etc., around a celestial body, as the sun.

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

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

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

  3. an orb or sphere.

  4. Anatomy.

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

    • the eye.

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

verb (used with object)
  1. to move or travel around in an orbital or elliptical path: The earth orbits the sun once every 365.25 days.

  2. to send into orbit, as a satellite.

verb (used without object)
  1. to go or travel in an orbit.

Origin of orbit

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Latin orbita wheel track, course, circuit

Other words from orbit

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use orbit in a sentence

  • "I'm not surprised we orbited, instead of docking," Ellen remarked.

    Industrial Revolution | Poul William Anderson
  • I had orbited Mars, I had the glory of being the first American to do that.

    Last Resort | Stephen Bartholomew

British Dictionary definitions for orbit

orbit

/ (ˈɔːbɪt) /


noun
  1. 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

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

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

  2. zoology

    • the skin surrounding the eye of a bird

    • the hollow in which lies the eye or eyestalk of an insect or other arthropod

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

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

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

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

Origin of orbit

1
C16: from Latin orbita course, from orbis circle, orb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for orbit

orbit

[ ôrbĭt ]


Noun
  1. 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.

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

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

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

Verb
  1. To move in an orbit around another body.

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

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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.”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with orbit

orbit

see in orbit.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.