satellite
Americannoun
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Astronomy. a natural body that revolves around a planet; a moon.
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a country under the domination or influence of another.
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something, as a branch office or an off-campus facility of a university, that depends on, accompanies, or serves something else.
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an attendant or follower of another person, often subservient or obsequious in manner.
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a device designed to be launched into orbit around the earth, another planet, the sun, etc.
adjective
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of, relating to, or constituting a satellite.
the nation's new satellite program.
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using an earth-orbiting satellite to transmit communications signals; transmitted or broadcast by satellite.
satellite radio and TV.
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subordinate to another authority, outside power, or the like.
summoned to a conference of satellite nations.
noun
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a celestial body orbiting around a planet or star
the earth is a satellite of the sun
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Also called: artificial satellite. a man-made device orbiting around the earth, moon, or another planet transmitting to earth scientific information or used for communication See also communications satellite
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a person, esp one who is obsequious, who follows or serves another
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a country or political unit under the domination of a foreign power
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a subordinate area or community that is dependent upon a larger adjacent town or city
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(modifier) subordinate to or dependent upon another
a satellite nation
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(modifier) of, used in, or relating to the transmission of television signals from a satellite to the house
a satellite dish aerial
verb
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A small body in orbit around a larger body.
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See Note at moon
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An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body. Satellites are used for research, communications, weather information, and navigation. The first artificial Earth satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union in October 1957; the first successful American satellite was launched in January 1958.
Other Word Forms
- satellited adjective
Etymology
Origin of satellite
1540–50; 1955–60 satellite for def. 2; < Latin satellit- (stem of satelles ) attendant, member of bodyguard or retinue
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
BBC Verify has obtained satellite imagery taken over the city on Saturday morning, which shows significant damage to part of the compound of Leadership House, the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
From BBC
Some people briefly managed to access the internet using methods such as SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet and virtual private networks, and may be able to do so again.
From BBC
They are satellites in their orbit, part of the networks that form around them.
With 11,800 active satellites already in orbit and that number expected to rise sharply, the team said this approach could make future missions safer and more sustainable.
From BBC
This New York Circle met consistently to investigate spirit phenomena and grew large enough to start satellite meetings in nearby towns.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
