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orrery

noun
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or·​rery | \ ˈȯr-ər-ē How to pronounce orrery (audio) , ˈär- \
plural orreries

Definition of orrery

: an apparatus showing the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by balls moved by a clockwork

Illustration of orrery

Illustration of orrery

Examples of orrery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And like a globe, an orrery also serves a practical function. — Jay Bennett And Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "How to Build a Badass Orrery," 19 Jan. 2021 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Hell Is Montrose Doing?," 8 Sep. 2020 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Hell Is Montrose Doing?," 8 Sep. 2020 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Hell Is Montrose Doing?," 8 Sep. 2020 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Hell Is Montrose Doing?," 8 Sep. 2020 Hippolyta finds in the orrery, which send her to the observatory (the numbers are 39.805499 and -95.159492). — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 7 Recap: Is This Real Life, Hippolyta? Or Is This Just Fantasy," 28 Sep. 2020 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Hell Is Montrose Doing?," 8 Sep. 2020 Christina suggests Hiram’s hidden pages are connected to his orrery — or solar system model — which was secreted away in his home. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "Lovecraft Country Episode 4 Recap: What The Flip Is Montrose Doing?," 6 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'orrery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of orrery

1713, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for orrery

Charles Boyle †1731 4th Earl of Orrery

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Cite this Entry

“Orrery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orrery. Accessed 10 Apr. 2021.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orrery

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