Sputnik is defined as one of the space satellites launched into Earth orbit by the Soviet Union starting in 1957.
(noun)An example of Sputnik is a device that orbits the earth and transmits information back to Earth.
See sputnik in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
Origin: < Russ, lit., co-traveler < s(o)-, with (< IE base *sem-: see same) + put', way (< OSlav pt' < IE base *pent-, to go > find) + -nik, -nik
See sputnik in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Origin:
Origin: Russian sputnik (zemlyi), fellow traveler (of Earth)
Origin: : so-, s-, together; see ksun in Indo-European roots
Origin: + put', path, way; see pent- in Indo-European roots
Origin: + -nik, n. suff
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