ambit
n : an area in which something acts or operates or has power or
control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "the ambit of
municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this
article"; "within the scope of an investigation";
"outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit
of a world power" [syn: {scope}, {range}, {reach}, {orbit},
{compass}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0