sat|el|lite

sat|el|lite «SAT uh lyt», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a) an object in space that revolves around a planet, especially around one of the planets of the solar system. The moon is a satellite of Earth. »

The number of known satellites in the solar system, including Earth's moon, rose to 32 (Newsweek).

b) a man-made object launched by rocket into an orbit around Earth or other body; artificial satellite. Such satellites are used to send weather or other scientific information back to Earth; they also transmit television programs across Earth. »

Far up in outer space, U.S. satellites derive their radio voices from the Transistor (New Yorker). The magnetic field of the Earth induces sufficiently large eddy currents in the metal hull of a satellite to slow down its rotation (New Scientist).

2. Figurative. a) a follower or attendant upon a person of importance: »

Three thousand armed satellites escorted his steps (John L. Motley).

b) a subservient follower.

3. Figurative. a) a country that claims to be independent but is actually under the control of another, especially such a country under the control of the former Soviet Union: »

There was considerable unrest in the satellites, though this seemed to be economic rather than political in origin (New International Year Book).

b) U.S. a suburban community; suburb: »

DeKalb County, Ga. [is] a white-collar, upper-middle-class satellite of Atlanta (New York Times).

–adj.

1. of, having to do with, or of the nature of a satellite: a) secondary; minor: »

a satellite group, party, or regime.

b) allied; associated: »

Percival maintains that Canada's supremacy in hockey is being lost because coaching and conditioning in the NHL and its satellite leagues hasn't advanced (Eric Hutton).

╂[< Middle French satellite, learned borrowing from Latin satelles, -itis attendant]