atomic orbital

noun Physics, Chemistry.

See under orbital(def 2).

Words nearby atomic orbital

atomic heat, atomic hydrogen, atomic mass, atomic mass unit, atomic number, atomic orbital, atomic pile, atomic power, atomic reactor, atomic spectrum, atomic structure

Definition for atomic orbital (2 of 2)

orbital
[ awr-bi-tl ]
/ ˈɔr bɪ tl /

adjective

of or relating to an orbit.

noun

Physics, Chemistry.
  1. a wave function describing the state of a single electron in an atom (atomic orbital) or in a molecule (molecular orbital).
  2. the electron in that state.

Origin of orbital

1535–45; < New Latin, Medieval Latin orbitālis; see orbit, -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM orbital

British Dictionary definitions for atomic orbital

orbital
/ (ˈɔːbɪtəl) /

adjective

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

noun

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

Derived forms of orbital

orbitally, adverb

Medical definitions for atomic orbital

orbital
[ ôr′bĭ-tl ]

adj.

Relating to an orbit.

Scientific definitions for atomic orbital

orbital
[ ôr′bĭ-tl ]

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.