I. ˈsad. ə l.ˌīt, -at ə l- sometimes ˈsatˌlīt; usu -īd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French, from Latin satellit-, satelles attendant, bodyguard, probably of Etruscan origin; akin to the source of Latin Satellius, a Roman name
1. : a hired agent or obsequious follower : minion , sycophant
armed satellites of great men, were forced to seek an independent source of livelihood — G.E.Fussell
no satellite on whom he could bestow recognition with a maestro bow — Marjorie Brace
2.
a. : a celestial body orbiting another of larger size : secondary planet : moon
Jupiter has twelve satellites, and Saturn probably has millions of them in its rings — Time
b. : a man-made object or vehicle intended to orbit the earth, the moon, or another celestial body and usually instrumented for the transmission of space data
such far-soaring objects as missiles, satellites, and lunar probes — Newsweek
talks of a manned satellite to be used for meteorological observation — J.K.Hutchens
3.
a. : one that resembles a celestial satellite
the central sun he became for a host of surroundings satellites — Irving Kolodin
in both the film and radio firmaments Ireland tends to be a satellite of Great Britain — Paul Blanshard
b. : one that is subject to external influence: as
(1) : a political entity within the sphere of influence of a stronger power
when demoralized, disorganized, ideologically confused groups collaborate with a powerful, tightly organized world conspiracy … they do not become allies but only satellites or puppets — Edmond Taylor
satellites have sovereignty, although they lack supremacy — H.D.Lasswell & Abraham Kaplan
conversion of local regions into federal satellites poses a threat deadly to our liberties — D.D.Eisenhower
(2) : a subordinate area or suburban community dependent upon a metropolis for economic support
economic activities of the satellite are closely geared to those of the central city — C.D.Harris & E.L.Ullman
(3) : an associated or subsidiary enterprise
the hotel moved two blocks away … and immediately attracted new shops as satellites — Hal Burton
a main base in the Little America area from which two satellites … will be supplied — Glen Jacobsen
4. : one that is secondary or adjacent: as
a.
(1) : a short segment separated from the main body of a chromosome by a constriction — called also trabant
(2) : the secondary or later member of a chain of gregarines in syzygy
(3) : a bodily structure lying near or associated with another (as a vein accompanying an artery)
b. : a smaller lesion accompanying a main one and situated nearby
c. : a spectral line of low intensity having a frequency close to that of another stronger line to which it is closely related (as by having a common energy level)
d. : an auxiliary airfield of limited facilities serving as a dispersal point for a main air base and as a base of operations if the main field is put out of action
5. : one that accompanies : complement
maize and its satellites — squashes and beans — A.L.Kroeber
II. adjective
also sat·el·lit·ic |sad. ə l|id.]ik, |sat ə l-, -|it], ]ēk\
1. : of, relating to, or being a satellite
globular star clusters are satellite systems — G.W.Gray b.1886
the earth satellite vehicle program — New Republic
the Kremlin could launch four satellite armies against them and still disclaim responsibility — H.F.Armstrong
T chromosomes are characterized by having a satellite end — Leona Schnell
2. : dominated by or dependent upon an external power : subordinate , related
did not take as much as four days … to obtain from its vassal satellite regimes acceptance of new measures — W.H.Chamberlin
a survey of the governmental relationships between that city and its satellite communities — Robert Shaplen
satellite industries which can supply them with parts and components — Darrell Berrigan
3.
a. : being in close proximity or association : adjacent , ancillary
guarded by a formidable barrier of satellite peaks — Times Literary Supplement
a large, angry boil … surrounded by a crop of what the doctors call satellite boils — S.M.Spencer
a central library and satellite departmental libraries — Library Science Abstracts
b. : of a correlative nature : concomitant
satellite characters … correlated with growth — J.W.MacArthur
III. noun
: a usually independent urban community situated on the outskirts of a large city