orbit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
    celestial orbit.
    • he plotted the orbit of the moon
  2. noun a particular environment or walk of life
    arena; domain; sphere; area; field.
    • his social sphere is limited
    • it was a closed area of employment
    • he's out of my orbit
  3. noun an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
    ambit; reach; range; compass; scope.
    • 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
  4. noun the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
    electron orbit.
  5. noun the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball
    cranial orbit; orbital cavity; eye socket.
  6. verb move in an orbit
    revolve; orb.
    • The moon orbits around the Earth
    • The planets are orbiting the sun
    • electrons orbit the nucleus

WordNet

Or"bit noun
Etymology
L. orbita a track or rut made by a wheel, course, circuit, fr. orbis a circle: cf. F. orbite. See 2d Orb.
Definitions
  1. (Astron.) The path described by a heavenly body in its periodical revolution around another body; as, the orbit of Jupiter, of the earth, of the moon.
  2. An orb or ball. Rare & Improper
    Roll the lucid orbit of an eye. Young.
  3. (Anat.) The cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated.
  4. (Zoöl.) The skin which surrounds the eye of a bird.

Webster 1913