orbit

1 of 3

noun (1)

or·bit ˈȯr-bət How to pronounce orbit (audio)

: the bony socket of the eye

The orbit encloses and protects the eye and its appendages.

orbit

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a path described by one body in its revolution about another (as by the earth about the sun or by an electron about an atomic nucleus)

also : one complete revolution of a body describing such a path

: a circular path

: a range or sphere of activity or influence

within the president's orbit

orbit

3 of 3

verb

orbited; orbiting; orbits

transitive verb

: to revolve in an orbit around : circle

: to send up and make revolve in an orbit

orbit a satellite

intransitive verb

: to travel in circles

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English orbite, orbita, borrowed from Medieval Latin orbita (probably as translation of Greek trochiá), going back to Latin, "track, rut, path of a heavenly body" — more at orbit entry 2

Noun (2)

borrowed from Latin orbita "track, rut, path of a heavenly body," probably derivative of an adjective stem *orbi-t- "wheel-like," derivative of orbis "disk, circle, wheel" — more at orb entry 1

Verb

derivative of orbit entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1943, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

orbit 1 of 2

noun

as in loop

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

loop
circle
trajectory
circuit
path
route
arc
pathway
course
track
steps
way
line
routeway
flight path
ascent
descent

orbit

2 of 2

verb

as in to circle

to travel completely around the moon orbits the Earth

Synonyms & Similar Words

circle
traverse
ring
circuit
round
encircle
cross
circumnavigate
compass
girdle
circumvent
circumambulate
perambulate

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of orbit are compass, gamut, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation.

within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change

In some situations, the words compass and orbit are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

The words gamut and orbit can be used in similar contexts, but gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

The words range and orbit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities.

the entire range of human experience

Although the words scope and orbit have much in common, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

The meanings of sweep and orbit largely overlap; however, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

单词	orbit
释义	orbit 1 of 3 noun (1) or·bit ˈȯr-bət : the bony socket of the eye The orbit encloses and protects the eye and its appendages. orbit 2 of 3 noun (2) 1 a : a path described by one body in its revolution about another (as by the earth about the sun or by an electron about an atomic nucleus) also : one complete revolution of a body describing such a path b : a circular path 2 : a range or sphere of activity or influence within the president's orbit orbit 3 of 3 verb orbited; orbiting; orbits transitive verb 1 : to revolve in an orbit around : circle 2 : to send up and make revolve in an orbit orbit a satellite intransitive verb : to travel in circles Synonyms Verb circle circuit circumnavigate circumvent compass encircle girdle ring round See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb The Moon orbits the Earth. The satellites orbit at different heights. The Moon orbits around the Earth. Word History Etymology Noun (1) Middle English orbite, orbita, borrowed from Medieval Latin orbita (probably as translation of Greek trochiá), going back to Latin, "track, rut, path of a heavenly body" — more at orbit entry 2 Noun (2) borrowed from Latin orbita "track, rut, path of a heavenly body," probably derivative of an adjective stem orbi-t- "wheel-like," derivative of orbis* "disk, circle, wheel" — more at orb entry 1 Verb derivative of orbit entry 2 First Known Use Noun (1) 15th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (2) 1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb 1943, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Phrases Containing orbit low earth orbit low earth orbit Kids Definition orbit 1 of 2 noun or·bit ˈȯr-bət : the path taken by one body circling around another body The earth makes an orbit around the sun. orbit 2 of 2 verb orbited; orbiting 1 : to move in an orbit around : circle The moon orbits the earth. 2 : to send up so as to move in an orbit The weather bureau will orbit a new satellite. Medical Definition orbit noun or·bit ˈȯr-bət : the bony cavity perforated for the passage of nerves and blood vessels that occupies the lateral front of the skull immediately beneath the frontal bone on each side and encloses and protects the eye and its appendages called also eye socket, orbital cavity orbit 1 of 2 noun as in loop Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance loop circle trajectory circuit path route arc pathway course track steps way line routeway flight path ascent descent orbit 2 of 2 verb as in to circle to travel completely around the moon orbits the Earth Synonyms & Similar Words circle traverse ring circuit round encircle cross circumnavigate compass girdle circumvent circumambulate perambulate Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of orbit are compass, gamut, range, scope, and sweep. While all these words mean "the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control)," orbit suggests an often circumscribed range of activity or influence within which forces work toward accommodation. within that restricted orbit they tried to effect social change In some situations, the words compass and orbit are roughly equivalent. However, compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity. your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study The words gamut and orbit can be used in similar contexts, but gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another. a performance that ran the gamut of emotions The words range and orbit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, range is a general term indicating the extent of one's perception or the extent of powers, capacities, or possibilities. the entire range of human experience Although the words scope and orbit have much in common, scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible. as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened The meanings of sweep and orbit largely overlap; however, sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity. the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity
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orbit

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing orbit

Kids Definition

noun

verb

Medical Definition

noun

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser