orbit — English Dictionary

Noun

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

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

2. The curved path of one object around a point or another body. An elliptical movement of an object about a celestial object or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution. One complete circuit round an orbited body.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

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

3. The curved path of one object around a point or another body. The state of moving in an orbit.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

4. The curved path of one object around a point or another body. The path of an electron around an atomic nucleus.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. The curved path of one object around a point or another body. 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.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

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

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Figurative
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   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.

   More examples (2)

   Bondi has been inside Trump’s orbit for some time, and is widely seen to have demonstrated her loyalty to Trump during his first term, when she helped with his impeachment defense, and more recently when she repeatedly attended Trump’s criminal trial in New York.

   So, it is clear from the consultation that while the intention is to bring track and train together under GBR, it will not escape the orbit of the government.

7. The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   eye socketcranial orbit

8. The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball. The area around the eye of a bird or other animal.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

9. A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

10. 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.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

11. The number of hands such that each player at the table has posted the big blind once.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Uncountable

    Examples

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

12. A state of increased excitement, activity, or anger.

    Usage

    • Countable
    • Informal
    • Uncountable

    Examples

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

    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.

Verb

1. To circle or revolve around another object or position.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The Earth orbits the Sun.

   The satellite orbits the Lagrange point.

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

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   launch

   Examples

   A rocket was used to orbit the satellite.

3. To move around the general vicinity of something.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   circumambulatetag along

   Examples

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

4. To move in a circle.

   Usage

   • Transitive

5. To center (around).

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

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

6. To continue to follow or engage with someone by means of social media after breaking up with them.

   Usage

   • Transitive

Noun

1. the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another

   Synonyms

   celestial orbit

   Broader terms

   pathrouteitinerary

   Examples

   he plotted the orbit of the moon

2. a particular environment or walk of life

   Synonyms

   spheredomainareafieldarena

   Broader terms

   environment

   Examples

   his social sphere is limited

   it was a closed area of employment

   More examples (1)

   he's out of my orbit

3. an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:

   Synonyms

   scoperangereachcompassambit

   Broader terms

   extent

   Examples

   a piano has a greater range than the human voice

   the ambit of municipal legislation

   More examples (4)

   within the compass of this article

   within the scope of an investigation

   outside the reach of the law

   in the political orbit of a world power

4. the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom

   Synonyms

   electron orbit

   Broader terms

   pathrouteitinerary

5. the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball

   Synonyms

   eye socketcranial orbitorbital cavity

   Broader terms

   cavitybodily cavitycavum

Verb

1. move in an orbit

   Synonyms

   orbrevolve

   Broader terms

   circle

   Examples

   The moon orbits around the Earth

   The planets are orbiting the sun

   More examples (1)

   electrons orbit the nucleus