Definition of "orbit" in English

noun

1. The curved path of one object around a point or another body.

2. (figurative) A sphere of influence; an area or extent of activity, interest, or control.

   • In the post WWII era, several eastern European countries came into the orbit of the Soviet Union.
   • The convenience store was a heavily travelled point in her daily orbit, as she purchased both cigarettes and lottery tickets there.

3. (anatomy) The bony cavity in the skull of a vertebrate containing the eyeball.

4. (mathematics) A collection of points related by the evolution function of a dynamical system.

5. (geometry, group theory) The subset of elements of a set X to which a given element can be moved by members of a specified group of transformations that act on X.

6. (poker, Texas hold 'em) The number of hands such that each player at the table has posted the big blind once.

   • All right, I'll play one more orbit but then I'm leaving!

7. (informal) A state of increased excitement, activity, or anger.

   • Dad went into orbit when I told him that I'd crashed the car.

verb

1. (astronomy, transitive) To circle or revolve around another object or position.

   • The Earth orbits the Sun.
   • The satellite orbits the Lagrange point.

2. (transitive) To move around the general vicinity of something.

   • The harried mother had a cloud of children orbiting her, begging for sweets.

3. (transitive) To move in a circle.

4. (transitive) To center (around).

5. (transitive, dating) To continue to follow or engage with someone by means of social media after breaking up with them.