orbital

1 of 3

adjective (1)

or·​bit·​al ˈȯr-bə-tᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or forming an orbit (such as the orbit of a moon, planet, or spacecraft)

the orbital path of a satellite

The Gregorian calendar is purely based on the position of the sun as seen from Earth, and is closely related to the Earth's orbital period.

—Martin George

In October 1957, a whirling orbital ball known as Sputnik roused Americans from their slumber and set into motion a rethinking of our educational system.

—Sam Wineburg

Blue Origin is also developing a crew capsule that might carry passengers by year's end. But that capsule is intended for brief up-and-down hops, not orbital flights, by tourists.

—Marcia Dunn

2

chiefly British, of a roadway : following a circular path around an urban area

The 117-mile orbital motorway encircles London and links to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

—Paul Harper

orbital

2 of 3

adjective (2)

: of, relating to, or located near the orbit of the eye

orbital bones

He required 23 stitches to his face and had an orbital fracture below his left eye.

—Rachel Rosenbaum

orbital

3 of 3

noun

plural orbitals

physics : a mathematically described region around a nucleus in an atom or molecule that may contain zero, one, or two electrons

Electrons arrange themselves in cloudlike regions around the nucleus called orbitals. These orbitals are designated by numbers for their energy level and letters (s, p, d, f) for their shape.

—Beth Mole

Examples of orbital in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This system, which allows Iran to adjust a satellite's orbit, is seen as a significant step toward achieving geosynchronous satellite positioning, where satellites are placed in orbital periods that match the Earth's rotation—a long-standing goal for Tehran in achieving its space ambitions. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

These dates can shift slightly each year based on Earth's orbital variations, but the duration remains consistent at roughly 89 to 90 days. —Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 2 Dec. 2024

Noun

The teen's lawyer said he was treated for injuries, including a broken orbital. —Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2024

Each shell ostensibly represents a specific distance from the nucleus, although the actual path of an electron’s orbit in that shell (called an orbital) is often far from a simple circle and can look more like a dumbbell, doughnut, teardrop, or other configuration. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 14 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

derivative of orbital entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

circa 1541, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing orbital

• molecular orbital

Medical Definition

orbital

noun

or·​bit·​al ˈȯr-bət-ᵊl 

: a subdivision of a nuclear shell containing zero, one, or two electrons