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   Or·bit

   /ˈôrbət/

   

   noun

   • 1. the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution: "the Earth's orbit around the sun" Similar coursepathcircuittracktrajectoryrotationrevolutioncirclecycleroundrare:circumgyration
   • ▪ one complete circuit around an orbited body: "the satellite will complete one orbit every 12 hours"
   • ▪ the state of being on or moving in an orbit: "planets in orbit around the sun"
   • ▪ the path of an electron around an atomic nucleus.
   • 2. a sphere of activity, interest, or application: "a radical filmmaker outside the Hollywood orbit" Similar spheresphere of influencearea of activityrangereachscopeambitcompasssweepjurisdictionauthorityremitspan of controldomainrealmprovinceterritorypreservedepartmentturfinformal:bailiwick
   • 3. the cavity in the skull of a vertebrate that contains the eye; the eye socket.
   • ▪ the area around the eye of a bird or other animal.

   verb

   • 1. (of a celestial object or spacecraft) move in orbit around (a star or planet): "Mercury orbits the Sun"
   • ▪ fly or move around in a circle: "the mobile's disks spun and orbited slowly"
   • ▪ put (a satellite) into orbit: "France has been orbiting satellites with her own launcher"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in orbit (sense 3 of the noun)): from Latin orbita ‘course, track’ (in medieval Latin ‘eye socket’), feminine of orbitus ‘circular’, from orbis ‘ring’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • B

     3

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

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