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)

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
Choose the Right Synonym for orbit

range, gamut, compass, sweep, scope, orbit mean the extent that lies within the powers of something (as to cover or control).

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

gamut suggests a graduated series running from one possible extreme to another.

a performance that ran the gamut of emotions

compass implies a sometimes limited extent of perception, knowledge, or activity.

your concerns lie beyond the narrow compass of this study

sweep suggests extent, often circular or arc-shaped, of motion or activity.

the book covers the entire sweep of criminal activity

scope is applicable to an area of activity, predetermined and limited, but somewhat flexible.

as time went on, the scope of the investigation widened

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

Examples of orbit in a Sentence

Verb The Moon orbits the Earth. The satellites orbit at different heights. The Moon orbits around the Earth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
With its massive gravitational pull, Jupiter has altered the orbit of asteroids and comets for billions of years. Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024 In 1846, scientists had observed irregularities in Uranus’ orbit, as if an invisible counterweight were tugging on the planet from the far side. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Penn State professor Joel Leja explains that machine learning is completely changing how astronomers process data, enabling rapid analysis of changes in star brightness and revealing orbiting planets. Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 This ocean was likely created because of tidal forces between Miranda and the other moons of Uranus, which can be strengthened if the moons orbit around a planet at particular rates. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for orbit 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of orbit was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near orbit

Cite this Entry

“Orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbit. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

orbit

1 of 3 noun
or·​bit ˈȯr-bət How to pronounce orbit (audio)
: one of the bone-lined cavities for the eyes in the vertebrate skull

called also eye socket

orbit

2 of 3 noun
: the path taken by one body circling around another body
the orbit of the earth around the sun
also : one complete circle that makes up such a path
orbital
-ᵊl
adjective

orbit

3 of 3 verb
1
: to move in an orbit around : circle
the moon orbits the earth
2
: to send up so as to move in an orbit
orbit a satellite
Etymology

Noun

Middle English orbit "eye socket," from Latin orbita (same meaning), from earlier orbita "path, rut, track"

Noun

from Latin orbita "path, rut, track"

Medical Definition

orbit

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

orbital adjective

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