I. or ‧ bit 1 /ˈɔːbət, ˈɔːbɪt $ ˈɔːr-/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive and transitive]
to travel in a curved path around a much larger object such as the Earth, the Sun etc:
The satellite orbits the Earth every 48 hours.
II. orbit 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: orbita 'wheel-track' , probably from orbis ; ⇨ ↑ orb ]
1 . the curved path travelled by an object which is moving around another much larger object such as the Earth, the Sun etc
orbit around
the Moon’s orbit around the Earth
in/into orbit
The Space Shuttle is now in orbit.
The telecommunications satellite went into orbit at the end of last year.
2 . formal the area of power and influence of a person, an organization etc
within the orbit of something
countries within the orbit of the British commonwealth