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Definition of "satellite" []

  • Astronomy A celestial body that orbits a planet; a moon. (noun)
  • Aerospace An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body. (noun)
  • A nation dominated politically and economically by another nation. (noun)
  • An urban or suburban community located near a big city. (noun)
  • One who attends a powerful dignitary; a subordinate. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "satellite" in a sentence
  • "However, we tend to use the word satellite to mean the man-made objects that are sent into space on a rocket to perform certain tasks, such as navigation, weather monitoring, or communication."
  • "The term satellite is also used to describe man-made devices of any size that are launched into orbit."
  • "North Korea made a similar claim in 1998 when it launched what it called a satellite but U.S. officials considered its Taepodong-1 missile."