n. & adj.
n. 1 a celestial body orbiting the earth or another planet. 2 an artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet. 3 a follower; a hanger-on. 4 an underling; a member of an important person's staff or retinue. 5 (in full satellite State) a small country etc. nominally independent but controlled by or dependent on another.
adj. 1 transmitted by satellite (satellite communications; satellite television). 2 esp. Computing secondary; dependent; minor (networks of small satellite computers). satellite dish a concave dish-shaped aerial for receiving broadcasting signals transmitted by satellite. satellite town a small town economically or otherwise dependent on a nearby larger town. satellitic adj. satellitism n.
[ F satellite or L satelles satellitis attendant ]