sputnik

noun

1. (historical)Any of a series of Soviet robotic space satellites, especially the first one in 1957.
2. (dated)Any artificial satellite.

   “With this program, we could bring water to the Middle East. We could rebuild some of our sagging esteem in that part of the world; we could insure that in this area at least we would have our sputniks abreast the Russians', and we could do our own economy a priceless good turn.”

   “This is but one of the facts which should demonstrate to those who would build British sputniks that such extravagances will be a disservice to the whole country until the supply of scientists has been multiplied many times.”

   “Of course, long before this reliable systems of meteorological sputniks, world-wide television sputniks, navigation sputniks, etc., will be created.”

   “In Britain, before we had the news of the launching of the Russian and just now the American sputniks, we learned the news that American planes carrying H-bombs, which they could deliver on Russia at very short notice, are continuously in the air.”

3. (slang)The currency sign ¤.
4. An adenovirus viral vector vaccine for COVID-19, developed in Russia.

   “For the record, Stone has been quadruple-vaxxed against covid-19: “Two Sputniks and two Pfizers,” he says proudly.”

5. (alt-of)Alternative letter-case form of sputnik.

name

1. A village in Pechengsky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia.