adjective
Uncommon
orbital
aw-biht-uhl
Orbital (adjective) means relating to an orbit, such as that of a moon, planet, or spacecraft. Example: “The rocket reached orbital velocity within minutes of launch.”
adjective
1
Relating to an orbit, such as that of a moon, planet, or spacecraft.
"The rocket reached orbital velocity within minutes of launch."
"The teacher drew the orbital path of the Earth around the Sun on the board."
"Scientists measured the satellite's orbital speed using signals from the ground."
2
Describing a road or railway that circles around the outside of a city.
"Traffic on the orbital motorway was backed up for miles."
"We took the orbital route to avoid driving through the busy city centre."
"A new orbital railway will link the suburbs without going into the town."
How to use orbital
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelated to an orbit — or, in the UK especially, describing a ring road around a city.
Common pairings
orbital motorway
orbital mechanics
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The rocket reached _____ velocity within minutes of launch.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin orbitalis, based on orbita, "track, orbit."
Related words
Rhymes for orbital
See all rhymes for orbital →Frequently asked questions
What does “orbital” mean?
The word “orbital” means relating to an orbit, such as that of a moon, planet, or spacecraft. In plain terms, related to an orbit — or, in the UK especially, describing a ring road around a city.
How do you pronounce “orbital”?
“Orbital” is pronounced aw-biht-uhl (/ɔɹ.bət.l̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “orbital” in a sentence?
Here is “orbital” used in a sentence: “The rocket reached orbital velocity within minutes of launch.”
What part of speech is “orbital”?
“Orbital” is an adjective.
Where does the word “orbital” come from?
The word “orbital” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin orbitalis, based on orbita, "track, orbit.".
Is “orbital” a common word?
“Orbital” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “orbital” have?
“Orbital” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to an orbit, such as that of a moon, planet, or spacecraft.
What is the difference between "orbital" and "orbit"?
"Orbit" is typically a noun or verb referring to the path a body follows around another, while "orbital" is the adjective describing anything relating to an orbit, such as orbital mechanics or an orbital satellite. "Orbital" is also used in a distinct sense to describe a road or railway that circles around the outside of a city.
Why is a ring road sometimes called an "orbital"?
A ring road is sometimes called an "orbital" because it describes a road or railway that circles around the outside of a city, similar in shape to how a satellite orbits a planet. This usage is common in British English, as with the M25 orbital motorway around London.
What does "orbital" mean in astronomy?
In astronomy, "orbital" describes anything relating to an orbit, such as that of a moon, planet, or spacecraft, including terms like orbital velocity or orbital period. It is used as an adjective rather than a noun in this context.
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