■ noun
1》 an artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet to collect information or for communication.
↘[as modifier ] using or relating to ~ technology.
↘~ television.
2》 Astronomy a celestial body orbiting a planet.
3》 a thing separate from something else but dependent on or controlled by it.
↘a small town, country, etc. dependent on another.
4》 Genetics a portion of DNA with repeating base sequences and of different density from the main sequence.
Origin
C16 (in the sense 'follower, obsequious underling'): from Fr. ~ or L. satelles , satellit- 'attendant'.