Definition

A spacecraft that travels around a planet or moon without landing on it.

Example

The orbiter sent back stunning images of the planet's surface.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new orbiter they launched to Mars?

Yeah, I saw the news! It's supposed to gather a lot of data.

I read that this orbiter can take high-resolution images of the surface.

That's amazing! I can't wait to see what they discover.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Orbiter → It is formed from "orbis" (meaning circle or disk) and "-ter" (a suffix used to indicate an agent or something that performs an action). The word "orbiter" refers to something that moves in a circular path around a celestial body, like a satellite orbiting a planet.

Memory Tip

Picture something that moves in a 'circle' ('orbis') — that's why an orbiter is something that travels around another object.

Visually Confused Words