satellite en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- [ˈsæɾəlaɪ̯t] ~ [ˈsæɾl̩aɪ̯t]
- /ˈsætəlaɪ̯t/
- (Southern-England) audio
- (US) audio
- /ˈsæɾəlaɪ̯t/
- [ˈsætʰəlaɪ̯t] ~ [ˈsætʰl̩aɪ̯t]
Etymology
From Middle French satellite, from Latin satelles (“attendant”). Ultimately perhaps of Etruscan origin.
Meanings
-
A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one.
At that time they suspected that Triton's frigid temperature might liquefy nitrogen but not be cold enough to freeze it. Thus they had predicted that Neptune's only big satellite—nearly the size of our moon—might be covered by an ocean of nitrogen, interspersed with continents of methane ice.
1990 August, Rick Gore, “Neptune: Voyager's Last Picture Show”, in National Geographic, volume 178, number 2, page 37:The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.
A spent upper stage is a derelict satellite.
-
A man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body, generally to relay information, data, etc. to Earth.
A 2025 global survey revealed widespread satellite interference in astrophotography, with 90% of respondents reporting moderate or worse impacts and 97.5% stating that conditions have significantly worsened over the past five years. This interference carries a substantial burden, costing an average of 27 extra minutes of editing per image, and 78% of participants believe a critical threshold exists, estimated at a median of 25,000 satellites, beyond which astrophotography will be irreparably harmed.
2025 December 8, Ruskin Hartley, “More than just streaks: 5 truths from the astrophotographers documenting our crowded skies”, in DarkSky International:Many telecommunication satellites orbit at 36000km above the equator.
- A country, state, office, building etc. which is under the jurisdiction, influence, or domination of another body.
-
(archaic) An attendant on an important person; a member of someone's retinue, often in a somewhat derogatory sense; a henchman.
[…]he would nevertheless have a better bargain of this tall satellite if they settled the debate betwixt them in the forest[…]. Betwixt anxiety, therefore, vexation, and anger, Charles faced suddenly round on his pursuer[…].
1826, Woodstock, Walter Scott, page 348:Inspector Meadows was a small man with a ginger head and what I considered a peculiarly irritating manner. A satellite, also in plain clothes, sat unobtrusively in a corner.
1924, Agatha Christie, The Man in the Brown Suit:We read in the Bible, that Nicanor the persecutor of Gods Law[…]sent his Satellites to apprehend the good old man Rasias[…].
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 3, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:The unnamed chronicler in his Dupin stories was the first Dr. Watson type of satellite—a narrator who accompanies the detective on his exploits, exclaims over his brilliance[…].
1948, Willard E. Hawkins, The Technique of Fiction: A Basic Course in Story Writing, page 169:
-
(colloquial, uncountable) Satellite TV; reception of television broadcasts via services that use man-made satellite technology.
Do you have satellite at your house?
- A grammatical construct that takes various forms and may encode a path of movement, a change of state, or the grammatical aspect. Examples: "a bird flew past"; "she turned on the light".
- A very large array of tandemly repeating, non-coding DNA.
-
A community or town dependent on a larger town or city nearby.
Ahead of us the lowering smoke-screen of Leeds and her gloomy satellites hung like an incubus over the land.
1949 March and April, F. G. Roe, “I Saw Three Englands–2”, in Railway Magazine, page 82:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| satellites | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
satellite broadcasting · satellite phone · satellite image · satellitization · satellite assembly · weather satellite · statite · satellite galaxy · biosatellite · satellite navigation · artificial satellite · alphasatellite · satellite hit · satellite campus · telesatellite · satellite tenant · intersatellite · satellite moth · megasatellite · deltasatellite · satellite telephone · global navigation satellite system · satellite operation · sub-satellite · satellite party · satellitary · hypersatellite · satellite bus · direct broadcast satellite · satellite station · satellite vein · satellite-framed · satellite link · satellite fly · satellite city · antisatellite · satellite team · satellitesimal · Dyson-Harrop satellite · adenosatellite · satellite DNA · subsatellite · satellitome · satellitism · satnav · myosatellite · power satellite · satellite town · Satellite Beach · satelloid · satellite planet · satellite sphinx · INMARSAT · betasatellite · satellite TV · satellitosis · macrosatellite · presatellite · satellite dish · communications satellite · satellite state · shepherd satellite · satellite television · geosatellite · satellite navigation system · satellite cell · satphone · satellite-framing · protosatellite · satellect · intrasatellite
Hyponyms
microsatellite · spy satellite · picosatellite · nanosatellite · space satellite · femtosatellite · quasisatellite · quasi-satellite · fixed satellite · minisatellite · anti-satellite
Relateds
Deimos · Moon (Earth's sole moon) · Hiʻiaka · Phobos (moons of Mars) · Dysnomia (moon of Eris) · Namaka (moons of Haumea)
Synonyms
artificial satellite · sat (artificial orbital body)
Translations (208)
mk сатели́т (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ja サテライト (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · shn လၢဝ်ထဵမ်း (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ja 衛星 (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · de Orbiter (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · lv pavadonis (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bn উপগ্রহ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fr satellite (a body orbiting a larger one) · ja 衛星放送 (colloquial: satellite TV) · ko 인공위성 (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ka თანამგზავრი (a body orbiting a larger one) · sk družica (a body orbiting a larger one) · ru спу́тниковое ТВ (colloquial: satellite TV) · eu satelite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ga satailít (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ms satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · tk hemra (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ga satailít (a body orbiting a larger one) · mn ᠳᠠᠭᠠᠭᠤᠯᠢ (a body orbiting a larger one) · ar قَمَر (a body orbiting a larger one) · da drabant (a body orbiting a larger one) · cmn 人造衛星 /人造卫星 (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ru провожа́тый (attendant on an important person) · de umkreisender Raumflugkörper (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · uz sputnik (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · nl satelliet (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fi nukkehallitus (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · bn উপগ্রহ (a body orbiting a larger one) · de Begleiter (a body orbiting a larger one) · ko 괴뢰 (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · cy lleuad (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi sivu- (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · de Satellit (a body orbiting a larger one) · fa-ira قَمَر (a body orbiting a larger one) · nl kunstmaan (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · de Trabant (a body orbiting a larger one) · lo ບໍລິວານ (a body orbiting a larger one) · ka ხელოვნური თანამგზავრი (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · hi उपग्रह (a body orbiting a larger one) · ta செயற்கைக்கோள் (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · be спадаро́жнік (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · uz satellit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · la satellites (attendant on an important person) · el δορυφόρος (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · sq satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · is fylgihnöttur (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi vasallivaltio (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · vi vệ tinh (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · vi vệ tinh nhân tạo (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · az süni peyk (a body orbiting a larger one) · uk супу́тник (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ms satelit (a body orbiting a larger one) · is tungl (a body orbiting a larger one) · ru провожа́тая (attendant on an important person) · ota پیك (a body orbiting a larger one) · bg спъ́тник (a body orbiting a larger one) · uz yoʻldosh (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ta துணைக்கோள் (a body orbiting a larger one) · ky сателлит (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ja 従者 (attendant on an important person) · tr peyk (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi apuri (attendant on an important person) · pl satelita (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fi satelliittitelkkari (colloquial: satellite TV) · mn ᢈᠢᠮᠡᠯ ᠳᠠᠭᠠᠭᠤᠯᠢ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · lt palydovas (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · be спадаро́жнік (a body orbiting a larger one) · da drabant (attendant on an important person) · da satellit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · be сатэлі́т (a body orbiting a larger one) · sh satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · lo ດາວທຽມ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · hi उपग्रह (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · tr uydu (a body orbiting a larger one) · mn хиймэл дагуул (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg спъ́тник (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fi haarakonttori (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · ja 衛星 (a body orbiting a larger one) · ca satèl·lit (a body orbiting a larger one) · de Satellit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · sv satellit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg сатели́т (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · tg моҳвора (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ko 위성방송 (colloquial: satellite TV) · cmn 衛星 /卫星 (grammatical construct) · ro satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ar قَمَر اِصْطِنَاعِيّ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fr satellite (grammatical construct) · de Gefolgsmann (attendant on an important person) · sh сателит (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · et satelliit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ur مَصْنُوعی سَیَّارْچَہ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · nl satellietstaat (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · tr yapay uydu (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ru спу́тник (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · da satellit (a body orbiting a larger one) · ko 위성 (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · tr uydu (colloquial: satellite TV) · cmn 衛星 /卫星 (a body orbiting a larger one) · tr uydu (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fi sivurakennus (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · ug ھەمرا (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · is gervitungl (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · az peyk (a body orbiting a larger one) · tum satelayiti class 9/6 (a body orbiting a larger one) · gl satélite (a body orbiting a larger one) · ru сателли́т (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · is gervihnöttur (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · mi amiorangi (a body orbiting a larger one) · kk серік (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg придружи́тел (attendant on an important person) · el δορυφορική (colloquial: satellite TV) · is gervitungl (a body orbiting a larger one) · my အရံဂြိုဟ် (a body orbiting a larger one) · fr satellite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · hy արբանյակ (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi kiertolainen (a body orbiting a larger one) · sl satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · sw satelaiti (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · it satellite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ja 衛星 (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · pl satelita (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi sivutoimisto (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · my ဂြိုဟ်တု (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · th บริวาร (a body orbiting a larger one) · tk hemra (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi satelliitti (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · tl buntabay (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ur سَیَّارْچَہ (a body orbiting a larger one) · ca satèl·lit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ta செய்மதி தொலைக்காட்சி (colloquial: satellite TV) · cmn 追隨者 /追随者 (attendant on an important person) · ka სატელიტი (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · cmn 追随者 (attendant on an important person) · km តារារណប (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · uk сателі́т (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ja 人工衛星 (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · hy արբանյակ (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · fa-ira ماهْوارِه (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · cmn 僕從 /仆从 (attendant on an important person) · id satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fo fylgisveinur (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · el δορυφόρος (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · cs satelit (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · pa ਉਪਗ੍ਰਹਿ (a body orbiting a larger one) · ru спу́тниковое телеви́дение (colloquial: satellite TV) · gl satélite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg сатели́т (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · pt satélite (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi ala- (country, state, office, building etc. under the control of another body) · cmn 随从 (attendant on an important person) · uk супу́тник (a body orbiting a larger one) · cmn 隨從 /随从 (attendant on an important person) · mi waka āmiorangi (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg сатели́т (a body orbiting a larger one) · az peyk (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · shn လၢဝ်ပွမ် (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · cs družice (a body orbiting a larger one) · tk hemra (attendant on an important person) · vi vệ tinh (a body orbiting a larger one) · id satelit buatan (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ky спутник (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · be сатэлі́т (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ru сателли́т (a body orbiting a larger one) · cy lloeren (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · bg сатели́тна телеви́зия (colloquial: satellite TV) · sk umelá družica (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · pt satélite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · hy արբանյակ (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · es satélite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · eu satelite (a body orbiting a larger one) · sk družica (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · id satelit (a body orbiting a larger one) · fa-ira قَمَرِ مَصْنوعی (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ru спу́тник (a body orbiting a larger one) · el δορυφόρος (a body orbiting a larger one) · tk hemra (colloquial: satellite TV) · hi प्राकृतिक उपग्रह (a body orbiting a larger one) · ko 위성 (a body orbiting a larger one) · hi कृत्रिम उपग्रह (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · gv fo-phlannad (a body orbiting a larger one) · sv satellit (a body orbiting a larger one) · fi tekokuu (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · nrf satellite (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · pl sputnik (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · es satélite (a body orbiting a larger one) · ja サテライト (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · tl likhang buntabay (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · vi truyền hình vệ tinh (colloquial: satellite TV) · cs družice (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · la satelles planētae (a body orbiting a larger one) · ru сателли́т (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · mn дагуул (a body orbiting a larger one) · cmn 仆从 (attendant on an important person) · he לַוְיָן (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ar تَابِع (a body orbiting a larger one) · de Begleiter (attendant on an important person) · nb satelitt (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · ro satelit (a body orbiting a larger one) · gv mac-plannad (a body orbiting a larger one) · yue 衛星 /卫星 (a body orbiting a larger one) · hu műhold (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · cmn 衛星 /卫星 (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · eo satelito (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · fi kätyri (attendant on an important person) · pl sztuczny satelita (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · th ดาวเทียม (man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body) · uk сателі́т (a body orbiting a larger one)