Orrery

Pronunciation: /ˈɔrəri/

Definitions of orrery

noun a mechanical model of the solar system or of just the sun, earth, and moon, used to represent their relative positions and motions

Example Sentences

A1 An orrery is a model of the solar system.

A2 I saw an orrery at the science museum last week.

B1 The orrery displayed the movement of the planets around the sun.

B2 The intricate design of the orrery fascinated the visitors at the exhibition.

C1 The orrery was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, showcasing the celestial bodies in motion.

C2 The orrery's precision in depicting the orbits of the planets impressed even the most discerning astronomers.

Examples of orrery in a Sentence

formal The orrery on display in the museum accurately depicts the movements of the planets in our solar system.

informal I saw this cool orrery thing at the science museum that shows how the planets move around the sun.

slang Check out that fancy orrery gadget showing how the planets orbit the sun!

figurative Her mind was like a complex orrery, each thought moving in precise orbits around a central idea.

Grammatical Forms of orrery

• plural: orreries
• comparative: more orrery
• superlative: most orrery
• present tense: orrery
• future tense: will orrery
• perfect tense: has orrery
• continuous tense: is orrerying
• singular: orrery
• positive degree: orrery
• infinitive: to orrery
• gerund: orrerying
• participle: orreried

Origin and Evolution of orrery

First Known Use: 1713 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'orrery' is derived from the name of Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery, who commissioned the first known orrery in the early 18th century.

Evolution of the word: Originally used specifically to refer to a mechanical model of the solar system, the term 'orrery' has evolved to encompass any mechanical device that illustrates the movements of celestial bodies.