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orbit

or·bit

orbit

 
 
pronunciation:
or biht
parts of speech:
noun, transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: noun
definition 1: the curved path in which a planet, satellite, or spacecraft revolves about another body.
Earth's orbit around the sun is elliptical.
similar words:
circuit, course, path, revolution, ring, trajectory
definition 2: one complete revolution along such a path.
A little more than 365 days is the amount of time that the earth takes to complete one orbit around the sun.
synonyms:
revolution
similar words:
circuit
definition 3: a sphere or area of experience, knowledge, control, or power.
Such questions are really outside of my orbit.
synonyms:
domain, field, province, sphere
similar words:
area, bag, bailiwick, discipline, realm, region, specialty
definition 4: one of the two bony sockets that encase the eyeballs.
similar words:
socket
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part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: orbits, orbiting, orbited
definition 1: to revolve about (another body) in a curved path.
Several moons orbit Jupiter.
See a movie for this meaning
 
synonyms:
revolve about
similar words:
encircle
definition 2: to send into an orbit.
similar words:
launch
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition: to travel in an orbit.
The space station is now orbiting.
similar words:
circle, revolve, ring, rotate, travel
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derivation: orbital (adj.)
Word History
Orbit comes from an early French word that means "the track of a wheel."
Word Explorer
See
  earth, outer space, physics, space
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