orbit

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orbit

Wikipedia

Alternative forms edit

• (eye socket) orbita

Etymology edit

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

Pronunciation edit

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

  • Audio (GA)

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)bɪt

Noun edit

orbit (countable and uncountable, plural orbits)

1. 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.

         The Moon's orbit around the Earth takes nearly one month to complete.

   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.
2. A sphere of influence; an area or extent of activity, interest, or control.

   In the post WWII era, several eastern European countries came into the orbit of the Soviet Union.

   The convenience store was a heavily travelled point in her daily orbit, as she purchased both cigarettes and lottery tickets there.

3. (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.
4. (mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.
5. (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.
6. (poker, Texas hold 'em) The number of hands such that each player at the table has posted the big blind once.

   All right, I'll play one more orbit but then I'm leaving!

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

   Dad went into orbit when I told him that I'd crashed the car.

   • 2017 September 18, Andrew McGarry, “AFL finals week two: The heroes and villains from the elimination semi-finals”, in ABC News‎^[1], archived from the original on 2 October 2018:

     Given a veritable Pagan's Paddock by the Cats to work in on Friday night, Danger booted two goals in the first seven minutes to send Geelong fans into orbit.

Usage notes edit

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 edit

• escape orbit
• sun-synchronous orbit
• transfer orbit

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Verb edit

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.

   The Earth orbits the Sun.

   The satellite orbits the Lagrange point.

   1. To place an object (e.g. a satellite) into an orbit around a planet.

      A rocket was used to orbit the satellite.

      Synonym: launch

2. To move around the general vicinity of something.

   The harried mother had a cloud of children orbiting her, begging for sweets.

   Synonyms: circumambulate, tag along

3. To move in a circle.
4. (transitive) To center (around).
   • 2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):

     I have orbited my entire life around you, and you know it, okay?

5. (transitive, dating) To continue to follow and/or engage with someone via social media after breaking up with them.

Antonyms edit

• deorbit

Translations edit

See also edit

• satellite

References edit

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

Anagrams edit

• Brito-, tribo-

Etymology edit

Ultimately from Latin orbita.

Pronunciation edit

• Audio

  (file)

Noun edit

orbit (definite accusative orbiti, plural orbitlər)

1. (astronomy) orbit

   Synonym: (archaic) mədar

Declension edit

Further reading edit

• “orbit” in Obastan.com.

Noun edit

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

1. (astronomy) orbit

Further reading edit

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

Etymology edit

Past participle of orbi.

Pronunciation edit

• IPA^(key): [orˈbit]

Adjective edit

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

1. blinded

Declension edit

Verb edit

orbit (past participle of orbi)

1. past participle of orbi