Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for satellite

satellite

[ sat-l-ahyt ]

noun

  1. Astronomy. a natural body that revolves around a planet; a moon.
  2. a country under the domination or influence of another.
  3. something, as a branch office or an off-campus facility of a university, that depends on, accompanies, or serves something else.
  4. an attendant or follower of another person, often subservient or obsequious in manner.

    Synonyms: flunky, toady, sycophant, parasite, lackey, associate, companion, supporter, follower

  5. a device designed to be launched into orbit around the earth, another planet, the sun, etc.


adjective

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a satellite:

    the nation's new satellite program.

  2. using an earth-orbiting satellite to transmit communications signals; transmitted or broadcast by satellite:

    satellite radio and TV.

  3. subordinate to another authority, outside power, or the like:

    summoned to a conference of satellite nations.

satellite

/ ˈsætəˌlaɪt /

noun

  1. a celestial body orbiting around a planet or star

    the earth is a satellite of the sun

  2. Also calledartificial satellite a man-made device orbiting around the earth, moon, or another planet transmitting to earth scientific information or used for communication See also communications satellite
  3. a person, esp one who is obsequious, who follows or serves another
  4. a country or political unit under the domination of a foreign power
  5. a subordinate area or community that is dependent upon a larger adjacent town or city
  6. modifier subordinate to or dependent upon another

    a satellite nation

  7. modifier of, used in, or relating to the transmission of television signals from a satellite to the house

    a satellite dish aerial



verb

  1. tr to transmit by communications satellite

satellite

/ sătl-īt′ /

  1. A small body in orbit around a larger body.
  2. See Note at moon
  3. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body. Satellites are used for research, communications, weather information, and navigation. The first artificial Earth satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in October 1957; the first successful American satellite was launched in January 1958.


satellite

1
  1. In politics, a nation that is dominated politically by another. The Warsaw Pact nations, other than the former Soviet Union itself, were commonly called satellites of the Soviet Union.


satellite

2
  1. Any object in orbit about some body capable of exerting a gravitational ( see gravitation ) force . Artificial satellites in orbit around the Earth have many uses, including relaying communication signals, making accurate surveys and inventories of the Earth's surface and weather patterns, and carrying out scientific experiments.

satellite

3
  1. In astronomy , an object, whether natural (such as the moon ) or artificial (such as a weather observation satellite), that revolves around a central body. ( See under “World Politics.” )

Discover More

Other Words From

  • satel·lited adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of satellite1

1540–50; 1955–60 satellite fordef 2; < Latin satellit- (stem of satelles ) attendant, member of bodyguard or retinue

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of satellite1

C16: from Latin satelles an attendant, probably of Etruscan origin

Discover More

Example Sentences

The additional 1,280 satellites were approved for medium Earth orbits of 8,500km.

The effort will combine satellite images of agricultural regions with subseasonal forecasts out to 45 days.

Some cosmologists would answer that, today, with our satellites, we are making the required measurements.

The company has launched more than 600 satellites for Starlink, a high-speed Internet network that could begin commercial service late this year for customers in northern North America.

From Fortune

We’re poised to see more satellite launches with every passing year, which means more pieces of rocketry and spacecraft getting loose and zipping around at over 22,000 mph.

Initially, it will be able to carry 1,000-pound satellite-guided bombs or 500-pound laser-guided weapons.

For air supplier Hughes Aircraft, it was crucial satellite pieces from Russia.

Thus the report on the Guy Fawkes effigies, which also was picked up by RT, the English-language Russian satellite channel.

As a result, a satellite passing over a higher-mass region would speed up very slightly, and slow down over a lower-mass one.

A small outdoor television satellite dish sticks out of tall grass alongside a few piles of firewood.

She was captured many years ago in an attempt to overthrow the rule of Wananda upon a small satellite planet.

Such an attachment of a small or weak toward a great and powerful nation dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.

His Life by his satellite Boswell holds the first place among biographies as a triumph of portraiture.

He beckoned to his Chinese satellite and walked leisurely to the door.

Rose hurried away her sister and satellite, and then let loose her glee.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


sateensatellite broadcasting