orbit meaning and definition

ORBIT noun

Definition of orbit (noun)

1. the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
   • "he plotted the orbit of the moon"
   • synonyms: celestial orbit
2. a particular environment or walk of life
   • "his social sphere is limited"; "it was a closed area of employment"; "he's out of my orbit"
   • synonyms: area, arena, domain, field, sphere
3. an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control
   • "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power"
   • synonyms: ambit, compass, range, reach, scope
4. the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
   • synonyms: electron orbit
5. the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball
   • synonyms: cranial orbit, eye socket, orbital cavity

ORBIT verb

Definition of orbit (verb)

1. move in an orbit
   • "The moon orbits around the Earth"; "The planets are orbiting the sun"; "electrons orbit the nucleus"
   • synonyms: orb, revolve