Orrery definition

ôrə-rē, ŏr-
orreries
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Frequency:
A mechanical model of the solar system or parts of it.
noun
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A mechanical apparatus consisting of balls of various sizes arranged as on wires, designed to illustrate the relative motions and positions of the sun, earth, moon, and often other planets.
noun
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A clockwork model of any given solar system.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
orrery
Plural:
orreries

Origin of orrery

  • After Charles Boyle, Fourth Earl of Orrery (1676–1731), for whom one was made

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Named after Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery (1676-1731), for whom such a device was made.

    From Wiktionary

Orrery Sentence Examples

  • It was accepted by the early biographers, Deane Swift, Orrery, Delany and Sheridan; also by Johnson, Scott, Dr Garnett, Craik, Dr Bernard and others.

  • For an interactive model (called an orrery) look at the Solar System Live.

  • Why not use the electric orrery to see how Venus remains a morning object over the next few months.

  • The Solar System Live includes an interactive orrery of the Solar System, which might be what you are looking for.

  • It is often called an orrery after Charles Boyle, the 4th Earl of Orrery, for whom the first planetarium was made.

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Words near orrery in the Dictionary