Orbit

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːrbɪt/

Definitions of orbit

noun a curved path followed by a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon

Example Sentences

A1 The moon travels in an orbit around the Earth.

A2 Satellites are placed in specific orbits around the planet.

B1 The International Space Station completes an orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes.

B2 Astronomers study the orbits of planets to understand their movements.

C1 The spacecraft was launched into a geostationary orbit to provide communication services.

C2 The probe was sent to explore the outer reaches of the solar system beyond Pluto's orbit.

verb to move in an orbit around a celestial object

Example Sentences

A1 The Earth orbits around the Sun.

A2 The moon orbits around the Earth.

B1 The satellite orbits in space.

B2 The International Space Station orbits the Earth at a high speed.

C1 The planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in elliptical paths.

C2 The spacecraft was launched into orbit around Mars to study the planet's atmosphere.

Examples of orbit in a Sentence

formal The satellite was placed into a geostationary orbit around the Earth.

informal The spaceship is circling in orbit around the planet.

slang The rocket ship is cruising in orbit, dude!

figurative Her thoughts seemed to orbit around the idea of success.

Grammatical Forms of orbit

• past tense: orbited
• plural: orbits
• comparative: more orbital
• superlative: most orbital
• present tense: orbit
• future tense: will orbit
• perfect tense: has orbited
• continuous tense: is orbiting
• singular: orbit
• positive degree: orbital
• infinitive: to orbit
• gerund: orbiting
• participle: orbiting

Origin and Evolution of orbit

First Known Use: 1540 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'orbit' originated from the Latin word 'orbita' which means 'wheel track' or 'rut'. It was used to describe the path or course of a celestial body around another.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'orbit' has come to be commonly used in astronomy to describe the path of a celestial object around a star or planet. It has also been adapted in other fields to describe the path or trajectory of objects in motion, such as satellites or electrons.