orbital

noun

(physics) A specification of the energy and probability density of one or more electrons at any point in an atom or molecule, representable as a wave function.

Ellipsis of orbital sander. [A hand-held sander that vibrates in small circles, or orbits.]

(chiefly UK) Ellipsis of orbital motorway. [Synonym of ring road.]

adjective

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

(anatomy) Of or relating to the eye socket (eyehole).

(chiefly UK) (of roads, railways) Passing around the outside of an urban area.

Roots

orbitaorbit- · Latin · track, course

Synonyms & related words for orbital

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of orbital. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to orbital

Explore words related to orbital — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include orbit, suborbital, apocynthion, pericynthion, satellites, evection, aphelia, apolune. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does orbital come from?

The word orbital breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root orbit-, from Latin orbita (“track, course”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.