orbit
has definitions from the fields of anatomy,zoology,astronomy,transportation
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[ noun ] (astronomy,transportation) the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
Synonyms Examples "he plotted the orbit of the moon" Used in print ("Editorials"...)Thus , when the Russians sent up their first sputnik , American chagrin was human enough , and American determination to put American satellites into orbit was perfectly understandable . (J. F. Vedder, "Micrometeorites", in Francis S. J...)The radial velocity varies inversely as the particle size - a 1000 - m diameter particle near the orbit of Mars would reach the sun in about 60 million years . The Poynting-Robertson effect causes the semi major_axis of orbits to diminish more rapidly than the semi-minor_axis , with a consequent tendency toward circular orbits as the particles move toward the sun . The Poynting-Robertson effect causes the semi major_axis of orbits to diminish more rapidly than the semi-minor_axis , with a consequent tendency toward circular orbits as the particles move toward the sun . At one astronomical_unit from the sun ( the Earth 's distance ) the dust orbits are probably nearly circular . Related terms |
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[ verb ] move in an orbit, as of celestial bodies
Synonyms Examples : "The moon orbits around the Earth" "The planets are orbiting the sun" Used in print (J. F. Vedder, "Micrometeorites", in Francis S. J...)The velocity value used is also open_to some question ; if a substantial fraction of the dust is orbiting about the Earth , only about one_third the above_mentioned average velocity should be used in deriving the mass . Related terms |
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[ noun ] a particular environment or walk of life
Examples "his social sphere is limited" "it was a closed area of employment" "he's out of my orbit" Used in print (Barry Goldwater, "A Foreign Policy for America"...)Today , Africa is swerving violently away from the West and plunging , it would seem , into the Soviet orbit . Related terms environment front kingdom province political_arena preserve lap distaff |
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[ noun ] an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control
Examples : "the range of a supersonic jet" within the scope of an investigation" "outside the reach of the law" "in the political orbit of a world power" Used in print (Barry Goldwater, "A Foreign Policy for America"...)Freedom , in the sense of self-determination , is a worthy objective ; but if granting self-determination to the Algerian rebels entails sweeping that area into the Sino-Soviet orbit , then Algerian freedom must be postponed . |
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[ noun ] (transportation) the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
Synonyms Related terms |
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[ noun ] (anatomy,zoology) the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball
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