orbit

English Online Dictionary. What means orbit‎? What does orbit mean?

English

Alternative forms

• (eye socket) orbita

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English orbite, orbita, from Latin orbita (“course, track, impression, mark”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔː.bɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔɹ.bɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)bɪt

Noun

orbit (countable and uncountable, plural orbits)

2. The curved path of one object around a point or another body.
   1. (astronomy) An elliptical movement of an object about a celestial object or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

      Hyponyms: Clarke orbit, graveyard orbit, Hohmann transfer orbit, last photon orbit, Lissajous orbit, low Earth orbit, lunar orbit, Lyapunov orbit, Molniya orbit, osculating orbit, parking orbit, subsynchronous orbit, synchronous orbit

      1. One complete circuit round an orbited body.

   2. (uncountable) The state of moving in an orbit.
   3. (physics) The path of an electron around an atomic nucleus.
   4. (pinball) A path for the ball on the outer edge of the playfield, usually connected so that the ball entering in one end will come out of the other.
3. (figurative) A sphere of influence; an area or extent of activity, interest, or control.
4. (anatomy) The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball.

   Synonyms: eye socket, cranial orbit

   1. (zoology) The area around the eye of a bird or other animal.
5. (mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.
7. (geometry, group theory) The subset of elements of a set X to which a given element can be moved by members of a specified group of transformations that act on X.
8. (poker, Texas hold 'em) The number of hands such that each player at the table has posted the big blind once.

9. (informal) A state of increased excitement, activity, or anger.

Usage notes

When referring to astronomical orbits, "in orbit" and "on orbit" have somewhat different meanings. In general, a body is said to be "in orbit" if it is in freefall going around another body; while something happens "on orbit"(Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) if it occurs aboard an orbiting spacecraft. Thus one might say, "The space capsule is in orbit, and the astronauts inside are performing experiments on orbit."

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

orbit (third-person singular simple present orbits, present participle orbiting, simple past and past participle orbited)

1. (astronomy) To circle or revolve around another object or position.
   1. To place an object (e.g. a satellite) into an orbit around a planet.

      Synonym: launch

2. To move around the general vicinity of something.

   Synonyms: circumambulate, tag along

3. To move in a circle.
4. (transitive) To center (around).
5. (transitive, dating) To continue to follow and/or engage with someone via social media after breaking up with them.

Antonyms

• deorbit

Translations

See also

• satellite

References

• “orbit”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “orbit”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• Brito-, tribo-

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin orbita.

Pronunciation

Noun

orbit (definite accusative orbiti, plural orbitlər)

1. (astronomy) orbit

   Synonym: (archaic) mədar

Declension

Further reading

• “orbit” in Obastan.com.

Finnish

Noun

orbit

1. nominative plural of orbi

Malay

Noun

orbit (Jawi spelling اوربيت, plural orbit-orbit, informal 1st possessive orbitku, 2nd possessive orbitmu, 3rd possessive orbitnya)

1. (astronomy) orbit

Further reading

• “orbit” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

Romanian

Etymology

Past participle of orbi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [orˈbit]

Adjective

orbit m or n (feminine singular orbită, masculine plural orbiți, feminine and neuter plural orbite)

1. blinded

Declension

Verb

orbit (past participle of orbi)

1. past participle of orbi