orbital

[ awr-bi-tl ]

/ ˈɔr bɪ tl /

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See 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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of orbital

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

OTHER WORDS FROM orbital

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

Words nearby orbital

orb, orbicular, orbiculate, Orbison, orbit, orbital, orbital angular momentum, orbitale, orbital index, orbital quantum number, orbital sander

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use orbital in a sentence

Astronomical observations of distant stars tell us that many have planets orbiting them, and that some are of a size and density and orbital distance such that temperatures suitable for life are theoretically possible.
Earth Has Stayed Habitable for Billions of Years. Exactly How Lucky Did We Get?|Toby Tyrrell|January 21, 2021|Singularity Hub
Scientists can search for exoplanets only within a limited range of orbital distances.
We’re the Cosmic 1 Percent But Our Solar System Isn’t a Complete Weirdo - Facts So Romantic|Sean Raymond|January 5, 2021|Nautilus
Eventually, the goal for Musk is to have Starship making regular and frequent flights — for point-to-point flight on Earth, for orbital missions closer to home and for long-distance runs to the moon and Mars.
Elon Musk says SpaceX will attempt to recover Super Heavy rocket by catching it with launch tower|Darrell Etherington|December 30, 2020|TechCrunch
There’s protection from micrometeorites based on a similar design for the current orbital EMUs.
Current spacesuits won’t cut it on the moon. So NASA made new ones.|Neel Patel|December 29, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Such conjunctions recur every two decades owing to their orbital periods.
Jupiter and Saturn ‘great conjunction’ awes world. Here’s how to see it|rhhackettfortune|December 22, 2020|Fortune
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
Though it would mow your lawn at International Space Station orbital speed—17,000 mph.
Why Does the USA Depend on Russian Rockets to Get Us Into Space?|P. J. O’Rourke|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What is basically being attempted is a ballistic, sub-orbital flight, like a ride atop a short-range missile.
Branson’s Galactic Obstacles: Tom Bower Puts a Damper on Virgin’s Space Flight Dreams|Clive Irving|January 30, 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
But, because of it's great mass, our orbital velocity is something terrific!
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
Our orbital velocity is seven hundred thousand kilometers per second!
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
At the orbital velocity of the ship, focussing on the star was indeed a difficult thing to do.
Islands of Space|John W Campbell
The rotations of the planets and the sun are in the same direction as the orbital motions and nearly in the same plane.
A Text-Book of Astronomy|George C. Comstock
Is there any connection between their orbital distances, or between their orbits and the times of describing them?
Pioneers of Science|Oliver Lodge

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 of orbital

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

Scientific 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.

orbital

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British Dictionary definitions for orbital

Derived forms of orbital

Scientific definitions for orbital