2 VERB If something such as a satellite orbits a planet, moon, or sun, it moves around it in a continuous, curving path. □ [V n] In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first satellite to orbit the Earth.
or|bit|al /ɔː r b I t ə l/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] An orbital road goes all the way round a large city. [mainly BRIT ] □ The M25 London orbital road was proposed in 1905. in AM, use beltway 2 ADJ [ADJ n] Orbital describes things relating to the orbit of an object in space. □ The newly discovered world followed an orbital path unlike that of any other planet.
or|ca /ɔː r kə/ (orcas or orca ) N‑COUNT An orca is a large black and white killer whale.
or|chard /ɔː r tʃə r d/ (orchards ) N‑COUNT An orchard is an area of land on which fruit trees are grown.
or|ches|tra /ɔː r k I strə/ (orchestras )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play a variety of different instruments together. Orchestras usually play classical music. □ …the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
2 → see also chamber orchestra , symphony orchestra
3 N‑SING [N n] The orchestra or the orchestra seats in a theatre or concert hall are the seats on the ground floor directly in front of the stage. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use stalls
or|ches|tral /ɔː r ke strəl/ ADJ [ADJ n] Orchestral means relating to an orchestra and the music it plays. □ …an orchestral concert.
o r|ches|tra pit N‑SING In a theatre, the orchestra pit is the space reserved for the musicians playing the music for an opera, musical, or ballet, immediately in front of or below the stage.
or|ches|trate /ɔː r k I stre I t/ (orchestrates , orchestrating , orchestrated ) VERB If you say that someone orchestrates an event or situation, you mean that they carefully organize it in a way that will produce the result that they want. □ [V n] The colonel was able to orchestrate a rebellion from inside an army jail. □ [V -ed] …a carefully orchestrated campaign. ● or|ches|tra|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …his skilful orchestration of latent nationalist feeling.
or|ches|tra|tion /ɔː r k I stre I ʃ ə n/ (orchestrations ) N‑COUNT An orchestration is a piece of music that has been rewritten so that it can be played by an orchestra. □ Mahler's own imaginative orchestration was heard in the same concert.
or|chid /ɔː r k I d/ (orchids ) N‑COUNT Orchids are plants with brightly coloured, unusually shaped flowers.
or|dain /ɔː r de I n/ (ordains , ordaining , ordained )
1 VERB When someone is ordained , they are made a member of the clergy in a religious ceremony. □ [be V -ed n] He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1982. □ [be V -ed] Women have been ordained for many years in the Church of Scotland. □ [V n] He ordained his own priests.
2 VERB If some authority or power ordains something, they decide that it should happen or be in existence. [FORMAL ] □ [V that] Nehru ordained that socialism should rule. □ [be V -ed] His rule was ordained by heaven. □ [V n] The recession may already be severe enough to ordain structural change.
or|deal /ɔː r diː l/ (ordeals ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft with poss] If you describe an experience or situation as an ordeal , you think it is difficult and unpleasant. □ She described her agonising ordeal.
order
➊ SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION USES
➋ COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
➌ ARRANGEMENTS, SITUATIONS, AND GROUPINGS
➊ or|der ◆◆◇ /ɔː r də r /
1 PHRASE If you do something in order to achieve a particular thing or in order that something can happen, you do it because you want to achieve that thing. □ Most schools are extremely unwilling to cut down on staff in order to cut costs.
2 PHRASE If someone must be in a particular situation in order to achieve something they want, they cannot achieve that thing if they are not in that situation. □ They need hostages in order to bargain with the government.
3 PHRASE If something must happen in order for something else to happen, the second thing cannot happen if the first thing does not happen. □ In order for our muscles to work efficiently they need oxygen, which is provided by the lungs.
➋ or|der ◆◆◆ /ɔː r də r / (orders , ordering , ordered )
→ Please look at categories 12 and 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If a person in authority orders someone to do something, they tell them to do it. □ [V n to-inf] Williams ordered him to leave. □ [V n prep/adv] He ordered the women out of the car. □ [V with quote] 'Let him go!' he ordered. □ [V n with quote] 'Go up to your room. Now,' he ordered him.
2 VERB If someone in authority orders something, they give instructions that it should be done. □ [V n] The President has ordered a full investigation. □ [V n to-inf] The radio said that the prime minister had ordered price controls to be introduced. □ [V that] He ordered that all party property be confiscated. □ [V n -ed] The President ordered him moved because of fears that his comrades would try to free him.