n.
- an artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet to collect information or for communication.
▸
[as modifier]
using or relating to satellite technology.
▸satellite television.
- Astronomy a celestial body orbiting a planet.
- a thing separate from something else but dependent on or controlled by it.
▸a small town, country, etc. dependent on another.
- Genetics a portion of DNA with repeating base sequences and of different density from the main sequence.
Etymology
C16 (in the sense ‘follower, obsequious underling’): from Fr. satellite or L. satelles, satellit- ‘attendant’.