orbit

or·bit (ôr

a. The path of a celestial body or an artificial satellite as it revolves around another body.

b. One complete revolution of such a body.

2. The path of a body in a field of force surrounding another body; for example, the movement of an atomic electron in relation to a nucleus.

a. A range of activity, experience, or knowledge.

b. A range of control or influence: "What magnetism drew these quaking ruined creatures into his orbit?" Malcolm Lowry. See Synonyms at range.

4. Either of two bony cavities in the skull containing an eye and its external structures; an eye socket.

v. or·bit·ed, or·bit·ing, or·bits

v.tr.

1. To put into an orbit: orbit a satellite.

2. To revolve around (a center of attraction): The moon orbits Earth.

v.intr.

To move in an orbit.

[Middle English orbite, eye socket, from Old French, from Latin orbita, orbit, probably from orbis.]

orbit

Noun

1. the curved path followed by something, such as a heavenly body or spacecraft, in its motion around another body

2. a range or sphere of action or influence

3. Anat the eye socket

Verb

[-biting, -bited]

1. to move around (a heavenly body) in an orbit

2. to send (a satellite or spacecraft) into orbit [Latin orbis circle]

orbital adj

orbit (ôr

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.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	orbit - the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another; "he plotted the orbit of the moon" celestial orbit apoapsis, point of apoapsis - (astronomy) the point in an orbit farthest from the body being orbited geosynchronous orbit - a circular orbit around the Earth having a period of 24 hours itinerary, route, path - an established line of travel or access periapsis, point of periapsis - (astronomy) the point in an orbit closest to the body being orbited
	2.	orbit - a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit" arena, domain, sphere, area, field environment - the totality of surrounding conditions; "he longed for the comfortable environment of his living room" distaff - the sphere of work by women front - a sphere of activity involving effort; "the Japanese were active last week on the diplomatic front"; "they advertise on many different fronts" kingdom, realm, land - a domain in which something is dominant; "the untroubled kingdom of reason"; "a land of make-believe"; "the rise of the realm of cotton in the south" lap - an area of control or responsibility; "the job fell right in my lap" political arena, political sphere - a sphere of intense political activity preserve - a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone; "medicine is no longer a male preserve" province, responsibility - the proper sphere or extent of your activities; "it was his province to take care of himself"
	3.	orbit - an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "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" ambit, range, scope, reach, compass extent - the distance or area or volume over which something extends; "the vast extent of the desert"; "an orchard of considerable extent" approximate range, ballpark - near to the scope or range of something; "his answer wasn't even in the right ballpark" confines - a bounded scope; "he stayed within the confines of the city" contrast - the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness) internationality, internationalism - quality of being international in scope; "he applauded the internationality of scientific terminology" latitude - scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought; freedom from restriction purview, horizon, view - the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated; "It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge" expanse, sweep - a wide scope; "the sweep of the plains" gamut - a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions" spectrum - a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities palette, pallet - the range of colour characteristic of a particular artist or painting or school of art
	4.	orbit - the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom electron orbit itinerary, route, path - an established line of travel or access
	5.	orbit - the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball cranial orbit, eye socket, orbital cavity bodily cavity, cavum, cavity - (anatomy) a natural hollow or sinus within the body lacrimal bone - small fragile bone making up part of the front inner walls of each eye socket and providing room for the passage of the lacrimal ducts skull - the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates
Verb	1.	orbit - move in an orbit; "The moon orbits around the Earth"; "The planets are orbiting the sun"; "electrons orbit the nucleus" orb, revolve retrograde - move backward in an orbit, of celestial bodies circle, circulate - move in circles