satellite

satellite — noun

1. a human-made object placed in orbit around a planet or moon that receives and se

1.名詞B1
釋義

a human-made object placed in orbit around a planet or moon that receives and sends signals for television, phone calls, internet, and navigation, or that gathers data about weather and the surface of the Earth.

例句

The satellite sends high-speed internet to houses in places where phone lines cannot reach.

collocation: send + [signal/data/internet] via satellite

Dr. Lucía checked satellite images to find the best route through the flooded area.

collocation: satellite image for monitoring

同義詞
  • orbiter

    a satellite designed specifically to go around a planet, moon, or sun; more technical than 'satellite'

  • spacecraft

    any vehicle designed for travel or operation in space, not necessarily in orbit

  • probe

    a device sent into space to collect data, often flying past or landing on a body rather than orbiting it

文法句型

[countable] a satellite

attributive: satellite TV / satellite image

用法筆記

In everyday conversation, 'satellite' almost always refers to an artificial space device. When used as an attributive noun ('satellite TV', 'satellite navigation'), it describes services or technology that rely on such devices.

常見錯誤

❌The rocket is now a satellite in orbit.
✅The rocket put the satellite into orbit.
💡The rocket is the vehicle that carries the satellite; they are not the same object.
❌A space station is a kind of satellite.
✅A space station is like a satellite, but it is bigger and has people living on it.
💡Space stations are a type of satellite, but the terms are not interchangeable in casual use.

2. a naturally occurring body, such as a moon, that travels in a curved path around

2.名詞B1
釋義

a naturally occurring body, such as a moon, that travels in a curved path around a bigger body in the sky, kept in its orbit by the force of gravity.

例句

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, but other planets can have many moons.

collocation: natural satellite of + [planet]

Jupiter has four large natural satellites that were first seen by Galileo in 1610.

同義詞
  • moon

    the everyday word for any natural satellite; more common in casual speech than 'natural satellite'

文法句型

[countable] natural satellite of + [planet]

用法筆記

In astronomy, 'moon' is a more common everyday word for this sense; 'natural satellite' tends to appear in more formal or scientific writing. The two terms are interchangeable in most contexts.

常見錯誤

❌The Moon is a satellite of the Sun.
✅The Moon is a natural satellite of Earth.
💡A satellite orbits a larger body; the Moon orbits Earth, not the Sun.

3. a country that is officially independent but is heavily influenced or controlled

3.名詞B2
釋義

a country that is officially independent but is heavily influenced or controlled by a larger, more powerful country, especially in its political and economic decisions.

例句

After the war, the small kingdom became a satellite of its powerful neighbour.

become a satellite of + [powerful country]

During the Cold War, many Eastern European countries were called satellite states.

collocation: satellite state

同義詞
  • client state

    emphasises economic and political dependence, often between unequal trading partners

  • puppet state

    stresses direct control by a foreign power, with a local government that merely follows orders

  • dependency

    a territory that is controlled by a larger country, often without formal independence

反義詞
  • superpower

    a very powerful country that influences others, rather than being influenced

文法句型

[countable] satellite state / satellite country

用法筆記

This sense is most common in historical and political discussions about the Cold War period (1947–1991). In modern use, 'client state' or 'puppet state' are near-synonyms with slightly different connotations: 'client state' emphasises economic dependency, while 'puppet state' stresses direct control.

常見錯誤

❌Taiwan is a satellite of China.
✅Taiwan is a self-governing island, not a satellite state.
💡This political sense is used for countries that are formally independent but controlled by another; it carries strong historical and political associations and should be used carefully.

4. a person who depends on someone more powerful and follows them without thinking

4.名詞C1
釋義

a person who depends on someone more powerful and follows them without thinking independently, often in a way that suggests a lack of personal strength or judgment.

例句

The manager surrounded herself with satellites who never questioned her decisions.

surround oneself with + satellites

Faisal refused to be a satellite of the party leader and started his own movement.

同義詞
  • follower

    a neutral term for someone who supports a leader; does not carry the negative judgement of 'satellite'

  • minion

    a subordinate who carries out orders unquestioningly; more informal and often humorous or dismissive

  • sycophant

    someone who praises powerful people insincerely to gain advantage; emphasises flattery over mere dependence

反義詞
  • leader

    someone who takes independent initiative rather than following others

  • independent

    a person who thinks and acts for themselves

文法句型

[countable] satellite of + [person / organization]

用法筆記

This sense carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the person lacks independent thought or initiative. It is less common than the other senses and tends to appear in literary or descriptive contexts.