orbit

Alternative forms

• (eye socket) orbita

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English orbite, orbita, from Latin orbita (“course, track, impression, mark”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔː.bɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔɹ.bɪt/

  • Audio (General American):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)bɪt

Noun

orbit (countable and uncountable, plural orbits)

2. The curved path of one object around a point or another body.
   1. (astronomy) An elliptical movement of an object about a celestial object or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

      Hyponyms: Clarke orbit, graveyard orbit, Hohmann transfer orbit, last photon orbit, Lissajous orbit, low Earth orbit, lunar orbit, Lyapunov orbit, Molniya orbit, osculating orbit, parking orbit, subsynchronous orbit, synchronous orbit

      1. One complete circuit round an orbited body.

         The Moon's orbit around the Earth takes nearly one month to complete.

   2. (uncountable) The state of moving in an orbit.
   3. (physics) The path of an electron around an atomic nucleus.
   4. (pinball) A path for the ball on the outer edge of the playfield, usually connected so that the ball entering in one end will come out of the other.
3. (figurative) A sphere of influence; an area or extent of activity, interest, or control.

   In the post WWII era, several eastern European countries came into the orbit of the Soviet Union.

   The convenience store was a heavily travelled point in her daily orbit, as she purchased both cigarettes and lottery tickets there.

   • 2024 November 22, Hugo Lowell, “Trump names Pam Bondi as attorney general pick after Gaetz steps aside”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Bondi has been inside Trump’s orbit for some time, and is widely seen to have demonstrated her loyalty to Trump during his first term, when she helped with his impeachment defense, and more recently when she repeatedly attended Trump’s criminal trial in New York.

   • 2025 March 5, Richard Wilcock, “DfT sets out its plans with rail reform consultation”, in RAIL, number 1030, page 28:

     So, it is clear from the consultation that while the intention is to bring track and train together under GBR, it will not escape the orbit of the government.

4. (anatomy) The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball.

   Synonyms: eye socket, cranial orbit

   1. (zoology) The area around the eye of a bird or other animal.
5. (mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.
7. (geometry, group theory) The subset of elements of a set X to which a given element can be moved by members of a specified group of transformations that act on X.
8. (poker, Texas hold 'em) The number of hands such that each player at the table has posted the big blind once.

   All right, I'll play one more orbit but then I'm leaving!

9. (informal) A state of increased excitement, activity, or anger.

   Dad went into orbit when I told him that I'd crashed the car.

   • 2017 September 18, Andrew McGarry, “AFL finals week two: The heroes and villains from the elimination semi-finals”, in ABC News‎, archived from the original on 2 October 2018:

     Given a veritable Pagan's Paddock by the Cats to work in on Friday night, Danger booted two goals in the first seven minutes to send Geelong fans into orbit.

Verb

orbit (third-person singular simple present orbits, present participle orbiting, simple past and past participle orbited)

1. (astronomy) To circle or revolve around another object or position.

   The Earth orbits the Sun.

   The satellite orbits the Lagrange point.

   1. To place an object (e.g. a satellite) into an orbit around a planet.

      Synonym: launch

      A rocket was used to orbit the satellite.

2. To move around the general vicinity of something.

   Synonyms: circumambulate, tag along

   The harried mother had a cloud of children orbiting her, begging for sweets.

3. To move in a circle.
4. (transitive) To center (around).
   • 2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):

     I have orbited my entire life around you, and you know it, okay?

5. (transitive, dating) To continue to follow and/or engage with someone via social media after breaking up with them.

See also

• satellite

References

• “orbit”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “orbit”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• Brito-, tribo-

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin orbita.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

orbit (definite accusative orbiti, plural orbitlər)

1. (astronomy) orbit

   Synonym: (archaic) mədar

Further reading

• “orbit” in Obastan.com.

Noun

orbit

1. nominative plural of orbi

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch orbit, from English orbit, from Middle English orbite, orbita, from Latin orbita (“course, track, impression, mark”). Doublet of orbita.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈorbit/ [ˈor.bɪt̪̚]
• Rhymes: -orbit
• Syllabification: or‧bit

Noun

orbit (plural orbit-orbit)

2. orbit, the curved path of one object around a point or another body
3. (countable, astronomy) orbit, an elliptical movement of an object about a celestial object or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution
4. (countable, physics) orbit, the path of an electron around an atomic nucleus
5. (uncountable) orbit, the state of moving in an orbit

Verb

orbit

1. basic/imperative/informal of mengorbit

Further reading

• “orbit” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

Noun

orbit (Jawi spelling اوربيت, plural orbit-orbit)

1. (astronomy) orbit

Further reading

• “orbit” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.

Etymology

Past participle of orbi.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [orˈbit]

Adjective

orbit m or n (feminine singular orbită, masculine plural orbiți, feminine and neuter plural orbite)

1. blinded

Verb

orbit (past participle of orbi)

1. past participle of orbi

Alternative forms

• orbid

Etymology

Borrowed from English orbit.

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Noun

orbit m or f (plural orbitau)

1. orbit

   Synonyms: cylchdro, cylchlwybr

Mutation

Further reading

• D. G. Lewis, N. Lewis, editors (2005–present), “orbit”, in Gweiadur: the Welsh-English Dictionary, Gwerin
• R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “orbit”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies