Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
orbit
noun
/ˈɔːrbɪt/
Definition
The path that an object takes as it moves around another object in space, often used to describe the motion of planets around stars or moons around planets.
Examples
- The Earth takes roughly 365 days to complete one orbit around the Sun.
- Satellites are placed in orbit around the Earth to provide communications and weather data.
- The moon’s orbit around Earth is elliptical, creating phases that we observe from the surface.
Meaning
Orbit refers to the curved path that an object follows as it revolves around another object due to gravitational forces. This term is commonly used in astronomy but can also apply in a broader context, including the trajectories of satellites and other celestial bodies.
Synonyms
- Path
- Circuit
- Revolution
- Trajectory
