/ ˈɔːbɪt; NAmE ˈɔːrbɪt/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] a curved path followed by a planet or an object as it moves around another planet, star, moon, etc. :
the earth's orbit around the sun
a space station in orbit round the moon
A new satellite has been put into orbit around the earth.
2.
[ sing. ] an area that a particular person, organization, etc. deals with or is able to influence :
to come / fall / be within sb's orbit
■ verb
orbit (around sth) to move in an orbit (= a curved path) around a much larger object, especially a planet, star, etc. :
[ vn ]
The earth takes a year to orbit the sun.
[also v ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (referring to the eye socket): from Latin orbita course, track (in medieval Latin eye socket), feminine of orbitus circular, from orbis ring.