ˈsætəlaɪt n. & adj. --n. 1 a
celestial body orbiting
the earth or
another planet. 2 an
artificial body placed in
orbit round the earth or another planet. 3 a
follower; a hanger-on. 4 an
underling; a
member of an
important person's staff or
retinue. 5 (in full satellite State) a
small country etc. nominally
independent but controlled by or
dependent on another. --adj. 1 transmitted by satellite (satellite communications; satellite television). 2
esp. Computing
secondary; dependent;
minor (networks of small satellite computers). øsatellite
dish a
concave dish-shaped
aerial for receiving broadcasting signals transmitted by satellite. satellite
town a small town economically or
otherwise dependent on a
nearby larger town. øøsatellitic adj. satellitism n. [F satellite or L satelles satellitis attendant]