orbital

[ awr-bi-tl ]

/ ˈɔr bɪ tl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR orbital ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to an orbit.

noun

Physics, Chemistry.

a wave function describing the state of a single electron in an atom (atomic orbital) or in a molecule (molecular orbital).
the electron in that state.

Nearby words

orbiculare, orbiculate, orbison, orbit, orbita, orbital, orbital angular momentum, orbital cavity, orbital gyrus, orbital index, orbital muscle

Origin of orbital

1535–45; < New Latin, Medieval Latin orbitālis; see orbit, -al¹

Related forms

in·ter·or·bi·tal, adjectivein·ter·or·bi·tal·ly, adverbpre·or·bit·al, adjectivesu·per·or·bit·al, adjective

trans·or·bi·tal, adjectiveun·or·bi·tal, adjectiveun·or·bi·tal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for orbital

These companies include SpaceX, Orbital Sciences, Sierra Nevada Space Systems, and more.
Luxembourg and China Team Up on Private Mission to the Moon|Matthew R. Francis|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, Orbital Comics Gallery is seeking to address the issue through an exhibit titled 'Image Duplicator.'
Revenge of the Nerds!|William O’Connor|May 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When it was over, Keith had been stabbed in the shoulder, and Brandon had a fractured eye socket and orbital wall.
Arnold Pardoned My Son’s Attacker|Bruce Henderson|May 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They tell Sandra McElwaine about their orbital road trip ahead of Scott's liftoff this week.
Twins in Space!|Sandra McElwaine|October 3, 2010|DAILY BEAST

Prepping for their joint venture, the siblings seem amazingly cool about their orbital road trip.
Twins in Space!|Sandra McElwaine|October 3, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In the first place there is no distinction between the orbital and the temporal fossa.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia|Frank Evers Beddard
The orbital process of the frontal is not wider than the downward process of the maxilla.
The Cambridge Natural History, Vol X., Mammalia|Frank Evers Beddard
Numerous other meteoric swarms travel in orbital paths round the Sun.
The Astronomy of Milton's 'Paradise Lost'|Thomas Orchard
It is recognized by the fact that orbital fat presents in the wound, and for this reason it makes the operation more difficult.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various
It is about the size of an almond and has an upper (orbital) and a lower (palpebral) part.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for orbital

orbital

/ (ˈɔːbɪtəl) /

adjective

of or denoting an orbit

(of a motorway or major road circuit) circling a large city

noun

a region surrounding an atomic nucleus in which the probability distribution of the electrons is given by a wave function

an orbital road

Derived Forms

orbitally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for orbital

orbital

[ ôr′bĭ-tl ]

adj.

Relating to an orbit.

Science definitions for orbital

orbital

[ ôr′bĭ-tl ]

A partial description of the quantum state of an electron (or other particle) orbiting the nucleus of an atom. Different orbitals have different shapes and orientations, depending on the energy of the electron, its angular momentum, and its magnetic number. Orbitals have no clear boundaries; the shape of an orbital, as depicted graphically, shows only the regions around the nucleus in which an electron has a relatively high probability of being found. No more than two electrons (each with opposite spin) can coexist in a single orbital because of the Pauli exclusion principle. See also probability wave quantum number shell.