orbital

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈɔrbətəl/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Relating to or situated in an orbit, especially the path of a celestial body or artificial satellite around another body.; Relating to the eye socket (orbit) or the region around the eye.
  2. noun
    A mathematical function describing the wave-like behavior of an electron in an atom; a region of space where an electron is most likely to be found.; A road or railway that encircles a city or urban area, typically used to bypass the center.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: orbitals

Collocations

orbital periodorbital mechanicsorbital velocityorbital decayorbital insertionatomic orbitalmolecular orbital

Derivatives

orbitorbitallysuborbitalsupraorbitalorbiter

Synonyms

wavefunctionelectron cloud

Commonly confused

orbit
EN: 'Orbit' is the path an object follows around another body; 'orbital' as a noun is a quantum-mechanical function describing an electron's probable location, and as an adjective means 'relating to an orbit'.

Spelling tips

EN: No common spelling issues. Note that 'orbital' as a noun (chemistry/physics) is countable and distinct from 'orbit'.

💬 Examples

  1. The spacecraft achieved a stable orbital velocity of approximately 7.8 kilometers per second.

  2. The patient suffered an orbital fracture after the accident.

  3. The s orbital is spherical in shape and can hold a maximum of two electrons.

  4. Drivers were advised to use the orbital to avoid congestion in the city center.