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   orbit

   /ˈɔːbɪt/

   noun

   • 1. the curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft round a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution: "the Earth's orbit around the sun" Similar coursepathcircuittracktrajectoryrotationrevolutioncirclecycleroundrare:circumgyration
   • ▪ one complete circuit round an orbited body: "the satellite will complete one orbit every 12 hours"
   • ▪ the state of moving in an orbit: "the earth is in orbit around the sun"
   • ▪ the path of an electron round an atomic nucleus.
   • 2. an area of activity, interest, or influence: "audiences drawn largely from outside the Party orbit" Similar spheresphere of influencearea of activityrangereachscopeambitcompasssweepjurisdictionauthorityremitspan of controldomainrealmprovinceterritorypreservedepartmentturfinformal:bailiwick
   • 3. the cavity in the skull of a vertebrate that contains the eye; the eye socket.
   • ▪ the area round the eye of a bird or other animal.

   verb

   • 1. (of a celestial object or spacecraft) move in orbit round (a star or planet): "Mercury orbits the Sun"
   • ▪ move in a circle: "the discs spun and orbited slowly"
   • ▪ put (a satellite) into orbit: "France has been orbiting satellites with her own launcher"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in orbit (sense 3 of the noun)): from Latin orbita ‘course, track’ (in medieval Latin ‘eye socket’), feminine of orbitus ‘circular’, from orbis ‘ring’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • B

     3

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

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