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orbital

 - 5 dictionary results

or⋅bit⋅al

  [awr-bi-tl]
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to an orbit.
–noun
2. Physics, Chemistry.
a. a wave function describing the state of a single electron in an atom (atomic orbital) or in a molecule (molecular orbital).
b. the electron in that state.
Use orbital in a Sentence
Origin:
1535–45; < NL, ML orbitālis; see orbit, -al 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To orbital
or·bi·tal   (ôr'bĭ-tl)   
adj.  Of or relating to an orbit.
n.  The wave function of an electron in an atom or molecule, indicating the electron's probable location.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: or·bit·al
Pronunciation: 'or-b&t-&l
Function: noun
: a subdivision of a nuclear shell containing zero, one, ortwo electrons
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

orbital or·bit·al (ôr'bĭ-tl)
adj.
Relating to an orbit.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
orbital   (ôr'bĭ-tl)  Pronunciation Key 


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A partial description of the quantum state of an electron (or other particle) orbiting the nucleus of an atom. Different orbitals have different shapes and orientations, depending on the energy of the electron, its angular momentum, and its magnetic number. Orbitals have no clear boundaries; the shape of an orbital, as depicted graphically, shows only the regions around the nucleus in which an electron has a relatively high probability of being found. No more than two electrons (each with opposite spin) can coexist in a single orbital because of the Pauli exclusion principle. See also probability wave, quantum number, shell..
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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