: the bony socket of the eye
The orbit encloses and protects the eye and its appendages.
1
a
: a path described by one body in its revolution about another (as by the earth about the sun or by an electron about an atomic nucleus)
also
: one complete revolution of a body describing such a path
b
: a circular path
2
: a range or sphere of activity or influence
within the president's orbit
orbited; orbiting; orbits
1
: to revolve in an orbit around : circle
2
: to send up and make revolve in an orbit
orbit a satellite
: to travel in circles
Synonyms
Examples of orbit in a Sentence
Verb
The Moon orbits the Earth.
The satellites orbit at different heights.
The Moon orbits around the Earth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
In 1846, scientists had observed irregularities in Uranus’ orbit, as if an invisible counterweight were tugging on the planet from the far side.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
This ocean was likely created because of tidal forces between Miranda and the other moons of Uranus, which can be strengthened if the moons orbit around a planet at particular rates.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for orbit 
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Noun
With its massive gravitational pull, Jupiter has altered the orbit of asteroids and comets for billions of years.
—Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
In 1846, scientists had observed irregularities in Uranus’ orbit, as if an invisible counterweight were tugging on the planet from the far side.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Penn State professor Joel Leja explains that machine learning is completely changing how astronomers process data, enabling rapid analysis of changes in star brightness and revealing orbiting planets.
—Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
This ocean was likely created because of tidal forces between Miranda and the other moons of Uranus, which can be strengthened if the moons orbit around a planet at particular rates.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for orbit
Articles Related to orbit
Dictionary Entries Near orbit
Cite this Entry
“Orbit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orbit. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
orbit
1 of 3 noun
or·bit
ˈȯr-bət 
: one of the bone-lined cavities for the eyes in the vertebrate skull
called also eye socket
orbit
2 of 3 noun
: the path taken by one body circling around another body
the orbit of the earth around the sun
also
: one complete circle that makes up such a path
orbital
adjective
-ᵊl
orbit
3 of 3 verb1
: to move in an orbit around : circle
the moon orbits the earth
2
: to send up so as to move in an orbit
orbit a satellite
Etymology
Noun
Middle English orbit "eye socket," from Latin orbita (same meaning), from earlier orbita "path, rut, track"
Noun
from Latin orbita "path, rut, track"
Medical Definition
orbit
noun
or·bit
ˈȯr-bət
: the bony cavity perforated for the passage of nerves and blood vessels that occupies the lateral front of the skull immediately beneath the frontal bone on each side and encloses and protects the eye and its appendages
called also eye socket, orbital cavity
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