satellite
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a machine sent into space to orbit the Earth for communication, weather, or GPS.
n.an artificial apparatus placed in orbit around a celestial body to relay data or facilitate telecommunications.
Simple“The weather satellite sends high-resolution images of the storm back to Earth.”
In context“Engineers lost contact with the communications satellite shortly after it entered the upper atmosphere, jeopardising the entire regional network.”
Synonymsspacecraftorbiter - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a natural object, like a moon, that moves around a planet.
n.a natural celestial body that orbits a planet or a larger primary body.
Simple“The planet Jupiter has dozens of satellites, including the famous moon Europa.”
In context“Astronomers are currently investigating whether the small irregular satellite was captured by the planet's gravity or formed alongside it.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.television programs sent to your home using signals from space.
n.television broadcasting services received via a dish from an orbiting transmitter.
Simple“We decided to get satellite because the local channels had poor reception.”
In context“The rural household relied on satellite for their internet and television needs due to the lack of fibre-optic infrastructure in the valley.”
Synonymssatellite televisioncable - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a smaller country or town that is controlled by or depends on a larger one.
n.a political or urban entity that is technically independent but remains under the heavy influence or domination of a larger power.
Simple“The small town grew as a satellite of the nearby capital city.”
In context“During the Cold War, several Eastern European nations functioned as satellite states, with their domestic policies largely dictated by the Soviet Union.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.a small word that goes with a verb to show direction or a change, like 'out' in 'go out'.
n.a grammatical constituent that complements a verb to express path, aspect, or result, often found in satellite-framed languages like English.
Simple“In the phrase 'run away', the word 'away' is a satellite.”
In context“English is classified as a satellite-framed language because it typically expresses the path of motion through a satellite rather than within the verb root itself.”
UsageIn linguistics, this term refers to the 'particle' in a phrasal verb.
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to send a signal or show a program using a satellite.
v.to transmit a signal, data, or broadcast via an orbiting satellite.
Simple“The live concert was satellited to millions of viewers across the globe.”
In context“The news agency managed to satellite the footage from the remote disaster zone just minutes before the ground station lost power.”
Usage satellite imagery · satellite images · satellite observations
“EU officials will then use satellite images to check the beans are not coming from land that was a forest in the past five years.”
“Programmes like the European Space Agency's Moonlight are planning to launch a network of satellites around the Moon to provide continuous and reliable communication coverage in the future.”
From Middle French satellite, from Latin satelles (“attendant”). Ultimately perhaps of Etruscan origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.