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Glite Dictionary
orbit period

orbit period

6.0
The time an object takes to go once around a planet or star
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrbɪt ˈpɪərɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : período orbital
  • Scientists observed that the orbit period of the new planet is significantly longer than that of its neighboring celestial bodies.

Examples

  • The space probe was designed to measure changes in its orbit period as it approached the black hole.

  • Charles F. Gammie (University of Illinois), who has studied this question most carefully, has shown that, roughly speaking, fragmentation happens when the gas can radiate away most of its energy in about half an orbit period or less.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The satellite completes its mission by maintaining a stable orbit period of 90 minutes around the Earth.

Synonyms

revolution
vsorbit period
  • Specialized
45 3.5

One complete turn around a central point, like a planet or wheel

measures how long it takes to finish that movement around a celestial body

Surface Forms

orbit period singular
orbit periods plural

Morphology

orbit + period

The meaning 'time required to complete one full revolution' is directly derivable from combining 'orbit' (the curved path of an object) with 'period' (a measured interval). This straightforward noun+noun composition follows predictable semantics and parallels constructions in other languages (e.g., Spanish 'periodo orbital'), so a B1 learner knowing both constituents would very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Orbit period combines orbit, a path around a planet, and period, a length of time. Imagine the Moon moving once around Earth like a clock hand; the orbit period is the time it takes for that full turn, so it means 'the time to complete one full turn'.