the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
"he plotted the orbit of the moon"
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
"a piano has a greater range than the human voice"
"the ambit of municipal legislation"
"within the compass of this article"
"within the scope of an investigation"
"outside the reach of the law"
"in the political orbit of a world power"
the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
"In early atomic models, electrons were thought to travel in fixed circular orbits around the nucleus like planets around the sun."
the bony cavity in the skull containing the eyeball
"The surgeon carefully examined the orbit to ensure there was no damage to the bone surrounding the eye socket."
A circular or elliptical path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.
"The International Space Station maintains a stable low Earth orbit as it completes its daily revolution around the globe."
One complete circuit round an orbited body.
"After months of training, the new astronaut completed her first orbit around Earth without any errors."
In plain English: An orbit is the curved path that an object follows as it travels around another larger object due to gravity.
"The moon completes its orbit around Earth every twenty-eight days."
Usage: Use "orbit" to describe the specific curved path taken by satellites, planets, or spacecraft as they travel around a larger celestial body. This term applies strictly to astronomical contexts and should not be used metaphorically for human movement unless clearly distinguishing it from general circular motion.
To circle or revolve around another object.
"The moon orbits the Earth every twenty-seven days."
In plain English: To orbit means to move around something else while staying close enough that gravity keeps you from flying away.
"The moon slowly orbits the earth every twenty-eight days."
The word entered English from the Middle English forms orbite and orbita, which came from the Latin orbita. Originally, it meant a course, track, or impression.