1. a spacecraft designed to orbit a planet or other celestial body without landing on it
Usage: astronomy; space technology
2. something that orbits around another object

Examples

• The Mars orbiter transmitted detailed images of the planet’s surface.
• NASA launched a new lunar orbiter to study the moon’s composition.
• The spacecraft served as an orbiter for two years before running out of fuel.
• Scientists used data from the Jupiter orbiter to understand the planet’s atmosphere.
• The satellite acted as an orbiter, circling Earth every 90 minutes.
• The mission included both an orbiter and a lander component.