orbit

[awr-bit] /ˈɔr bɪt/
noun
1.
the curved path, usually elliptical, described 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.
3.
the sphere of power or influence, as of a nation or person:
a small nation in the Russian orbit.
4.
Physics. (in Bohr theory) the path traced by an electron revolving around the nucleus of an atom.
5.
an orb or sphere.
6.
Anatomy.
  1. the bony cavity of the skull that contains the eye; eye socket.
  2. the eye.
7.
Zoology. the part surrounding the eye of a bird or insect.
verb (used with object)
8.
to move or travel around in an orbital or elliptical path:
The earth orbits the sun once every 365.25 days.
9.
to send into orbit, as a satellite.
verb (used without object)
10.
to go or travel in an orbit.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English < Latin orbita wheel track, course, circuit
Related forms
orbitary, adjective
nonorbiting, adjective
Examples from the web for orbit
  • But these intricate paintings orbit a mystical sphere of their own.
  • As the nerve enters the optic foramen its dural sheath becomes continuous with that lining the orbit and the optic foramen.
  • Another is that it is intended to destroy satellites, or to drop bombs from orbit.
  • He says that if the technology does work in orbit, the habitats will be ideal for building bases on the moon.
  • The maiden launch into orbit of the first commercial spacecraft was successful.
  • Which in turn prevents useful and productive technologies such as communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
  • Education must not orbit around change it must embody change.
  • In this system, any slight kick would have ejected a small blob of molten rock into orbit.
  • The ring captures photons from a laser and holds them in orbit.
  • We're interested in the hardware that's actually going into orbit and beyond.
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
3.
(anatomy) the bony cavity containing the eyeball Nontechnical name eye socket
4.
(zoology)
  1. the skin surrounding the eye of a bird
  2. the hollow in which lies the eye or eyestalk of an insect or other arthropod
5.
(physics) the path of an electron in its motion around the nucleus of an atom
verb
6.
to move around (a body) in a curved path, usually circular or elliptical
7.
(transitive) to send (a satellite, spacecraft, etc) into orbit
8.
(intransitive) to move in or as if in an orbit
Word Origin
C16: from Latin orbita course, from orbis circle, orb
Word Origin and History for orbit
n.

late 14c., "the eye socket," from Old French orbite or directly from Medieval Latin orbita, transferred use of Latin orbita "wheel track, beaten path, rut, course, orbit" (see orb). Astronomical sense first recorded 1690s in English; it was in classical Latin, revived in Gerard of Cremona's translation of Avicenna.

v.

1946, from orbit (n.). Related: Orbited; orbiting.

orbit in Medicine

orbit or·bit (ôr'bĭt)
n.
See orbital cavity.

orbit in Science
orbit
  (ôr'bĭt)   
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.

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

  4. 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.


orbit in Culture

orbit definition


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).

Note: 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.”
Slang definitions & phrases for orbit

orbit

Related Terms

go into orbit, in orbit


orbit in Technology


A Scheme compiler.
["Orbit: An Optimising Compiler for Scheme", D.A. Kranz et al, SIGPLAN Notices 21(7):281-292 (Jul 1986)].
(1994-10-28)

Idioms and Phrases with orbit

orbit

see: in orbit