sputnik

American  

[spoot-nik, spuht-, spoot-nyik] / ˈspʊt nɪk, ˈspʌt-, ˈsput nyɪk /

noun

1. (sometimes initial capital letter) any of a series of Soviet earth-orbiting satellites.

   Sputnik I was the world's first space satellite.

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Sputnik British  

/ ˈspʌt-, ˈspʊtnɪk /

noun

1. any of a series of unmanned Soviet satellites, Sputnik 1 (launched in 1957) being the first man-made satellite to orbit the earth

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Etymology

Origin of sputnik

1957; < Russian spútnik satellite, traveling companion, equivalent to s- together, with + put’ way, route + -nik agent suffix ( -nik )

Example Sentences

With his trademark delivery - unhurried and calm - he informed viewers of the first sputnik in space, and delivered the communiqués of the Communist Party.

From BBC

This guy's not as imposing as a sputnik, but just as many bulbs.

From Salon

A “sputnik chandelier” hangs over the dining room table while a breakfast nook adjoining the kitchen has a Formica-topped dinette table and curtains with a starburst pattern.

From Seattle Times

The Soviets called it sputnik, meaning simply "satellite" or "fellow traveler."

From Time

There were odd flashes of serendipity — as when an errant paint splotch on an artist’s rendering inspired the Met’s crystal “sputnik” chandeliers, which still rise before each performance.

From New York Times