English Dictionary

Definition of “orbital

orbital (ˈɔːbɪtəllPronunciation for orbital

Definitions

adjective

  1. of or denoting an orbit
  2. (of a motorway or major road circuit) circling a large city

noun

  1. a region surrounding an atomic nucleus in which the probability distribution of the electrons is given by a wave function
  2. an orbital road

Alternative Forms

ˈorbitally adverb

Usage examples

  • He drove on the orbital M25 motorway, leaving it at Waltham Abbey on the north-east outskirts of London.
    Forbes, Bryan, A Song at Twilight (1989)
  • Ocean cores from the North Pacific show glaciation started within 3000 years, faster than possible if the trigger was orbital or tectonic.
    New Scientist (1998)
  • He was bent over at the waist, balancing on his toes and his right orbital bone.
    Edmonton Sun (2003)
  • If orbital flight comes off and your grandchildren are holidaying in orbit or on the moon, they will have first heard about Burt in school.
    Times, Sunday Times (2005)
  • Insertion: Slightly towards internal canthus along the orbital margin.
    Low, Royston, The Non-Meridial Points of Acupuncture (1988)

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