orbital
noun
or·bit·al
| \ ˈȯr-bə-tᵊl
\
\
Definition of orbital
: a mathematically described region around a nucleus in an atom or molecule that may contain zero, one, or two electrons
Examples of orbital in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There is no in-between state, no variation in frequency as would be expected if the electron was initially located in different points in these orbitals. — Quanta Magazine, "Solution: ‘Taming Quantum Weirdness’," 10 Mar. 2017 Chemistry is a sort of applied physics, with the behavior of electrons and their orbitals dictating a set of rules for which reactions can take place and what products will remain stable. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "AI plus a chemistry robot finds all the reactions that will work," 18 July 2018 Not mere Center City orbitals, these nonprofit suburban theaters are their own heavenly bodies, with their own individual fields of gravity. — John Timpane, Philly.com, "Surprise: There's good theater in the Philly suburbs," 13 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'orbital.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for orbital
orbital
noun
English Language Learners Definition of orbital
British
: a highway that goes around a city
See the full definition for orbital in the English Language Learners Dictionary
orbital
noun
or·bit·al
| \ ˈȯr-bət-ᵊl
\
\
Medical Definition of orbital
: a subdivision of a nuclear shell containing zero, one, or two electrons
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