orbit
AW-biht
Orbit (noun) means the curved path an object follows as it travels around another body due to gravity, such as a planet around the sun. Example: “Astronomers can predict the orbit of a comet many years ahead.”
noun
1
The curved path an object follows as it travels around another body due to gravity, such as a planet around the sun.
"Astronomers can predict the orbit of a comet many years ahead."
"The telescope stays in a steady orbit high above the clouds."
"The satellite was launched into orbit around the Earth."
2
A sphere of influence, activity, or interest that surrounds someone or something.
"After the move, my cousin quickly became part of the orbit of local artists."
"Few outsiders ever enter the orbit of the royal family's closest advisers."
"The young musician was drawn into the orbit of the city's biggest producers."
verb
1
To move in a circular or curved path around something.
"Several small moons orbit the giant planet at different distances."
"A cloud of dust orbited the star for millions of years."
"The moon orbits the Earth roughly every 27 days."
How to use orbit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe path something takes as it circles around another object — or, figuratively, someone's sphere of influence.
Common pairings
orbit the Earth
fall into someone's orbit
low Earth orbit
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Word forms
- Plural
- orbits
- Third person singular
- orbits
- Past tense
- orbited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Astronomers can predict the _____ of a comet many years ahead.
Etymology
From Latin orbita, "track, course," related to orbis, "circle."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “orbit” mean?
The word “orbit” means the curved path an object follows as it travels around another body due to gravity, such as a planet around the sun. In plain terms, the path something takes as it circles around another object — or, figuratively, someone's sphere of influence.
How do you pronounce “orbit”?
“Orbit” is pronounced AW-biht (/ˈɔɹ.bɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “orbit” in a sentence?
Here is “orbit” used in a sentence: “The satellite was launched into orbit around the Earth.”
What is the opposite of “orbit”?
The opposite of “orbit” — its antonyms — is deorbit.
What part of speech is “orbit”?
Depending on how it is used, “orbit” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “orbit” come from?
The word “orbit” comes from Latin. From Latin orbita, "track, course," related to orbis, "circle.".
Is “orbit” a common word?
“Orbit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “orbit” have?
“Orbit” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the curved path an object follows as it travels around another body due to gravity, such as a planet around the sun.
What is the difference between orbit and rotate?
A body rotates when it spins on its own axis, and it orbits when it follows a curved path around another body under gravity. Earth rotates once roughly every 24 hours, and it orbits the sun once a year.
Why do objects stay in orbit?
An orbit is the curved path an object follows around another body because of gravity. An orbiting object keeps moving forward so fast that, as gravity continually pulls it inward, its path bends into a curve around the body instead of dropping straight down.
What is the difference between orbit and orbital?
Orbit is the noun for the curved path itself and a verb meaning to travel around something. Orbital is mainly the adjective, as in orbital speed; in chemistry it is also a noun for the region around a nucleus where an electron is most likely to be found.
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