1392, "the eye socket," from M.L. orbita, transf. use of L. orbita "wheel track, course, orbit" (see orb). Astronomical sense first recorded 1696 in Eng.; it was in classical L., revived in Gerard of Cremona's transl. of Avicenna. The verb is attested from 1946, from the noun.
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another; "he plotted the orbit of the moon"
2.
a particular environment or walk of life; "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit" [syn: sphere]
3.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" [syn: scope]
4.
the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
5.
the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball [syn: eye socket]
verb
1.
move in an orbit; "The moon orbits around the Earth"; "The planets are orbiting the sun"; "electrons orbit the nucleus" [syn: orb]
the path in which something moves around a planet, star etc, eg the path of the Earth round the Sun or of a spacecraft round the Earth Example: The spaceship is in orbit round the moon.
Arabic:
مَدار
Chinese (Simplified):
（天体等的）运行轨道
Chinese (Traditional):
(天體等的)運行軌道
Czech:
oběžná dráha
Danish:
bane; kredsløb
Dutch:
baan
Estonian:
orbiit
Finnish:
kiertorata
French:
orbite
German:
die Orbit, die Umlaufbahn
Greek:
τροχιά
Hungarian:
pálya (égitesté)
Icelandic:
(hring)braut
Indonesian:
orbit
Italian:
orbita
Japanese:
軌道
Korean:
궤도
Latvian:
orbīta
Lithuanian:
orbita
Norwegian:
bane, krets(løp)
Polish:
orbita
Portuguese (Brazil):
órbita
Portuguese (Portugal):
órbita
Romanian:
orbită
Russian:
орбита
Slovak:
obežná dráha
Slovenian:
orbita
Spanish:
órbita
Swedish:
bana
Turkish:
yörünge
orbit[ˈoːbit]verb
to go round in space Example: The spacecraft orbits the Earth every 24 hours.
The path followed by a celestial body or artificial satellite as it revolves around another body due to the force of gravity. Orbits are nearly elliptical or circular in shape and are very closely approximated by Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
One complete revolution of such a body. See Note at solar system.
A stable quantum state of an electron (or other particle) in motion around an atomic nucleus. See more at orbital.
Either of two bony hollows in the skull containing the eye and its associated structures.
Verb
To move in an orbit around another body.
To put into an orbit, as a satellite is put into orbit around the Earth.
Note: Informally, something is “in orbit” when its actions are controlled by an external agency or force: “The countries of eastern Europe were once in the orbit of the Soviet Union.”
Ex*or"bi*tant\, a. [L. exorbitans, -antis, p. pr. of exorbitare to go out of the track; ex out + orbita track: cf. F. exorbitant. See Orbit.]1. Departing from an orbit or usual track; hence, deviating from the usual or due course; going beyond the appointed rules or established limits of right or propriety; excessive; extravagant; enormous; inordinate; as, exorbitant appetites and passions; exorbitant charges, demands, or claims. Foul exorbitant desires. --Milton. 2. Not comprehended in a settled rule or method; anomalous. The Jews . . . [were] inured with causes exorbitant, and such as their laws had not provided for. --Hooker.
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