orbital

[awr-bi-tl] /ˈɔr bɪ tl/

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.

Origin

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

Related forms

interorbital, adjective

interorbitally, adverb

preorbital, adjective

superorbital, adjective

transorbital, adjective

unorbital, adjective

unorbitally, adverb

Examples from the web for orbital

Forget robotic spy planes, drone fighter-bombers and self-landing orbital snoops saboteurs laboratories.
At orbital velocity, some eight kilometres a second, even an object a centimetre across could knock a satellite out.
As a consequence, its exact orbital parameters are still not known.
The total orbital energy remains constant, so if the spacecraft gains orbital energy then the moon's orbital energy decreases.
But that flash of light is actually from the grit and debris in a dead comet's orbital path.
At this big suborbital space station, a lighter-than-air orbital craft would be constructed.
Today's unmanned orbital droids may represent the state of the art.
What happens when you have a spacecraft that wants to change orbital distances.
The main axis of the planet's orbital ellipse shifts each time it goes round the sun.
Eye dark, with bright red orbital ring, carmine gape.

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

Word Origin and History for orbital

adj.

1540s, with reference to eye sockets; 1839 with reference to heavenly bodies; from orbit (n.) + -al (1).

orbital in Medicine

orbital or·bit·al (ôr'bĭ-tl)
adj.
Relating to an orbit.

orbital in Science

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..