Orbital: meaning, definitions and examples

When referring to the eye socket or the area around the eye in medical or anatomical contexts.

• The patient has an orbital fracture that needs immediate attention.
• Swelling in the orbital region can cause vision problems.

Used when talking about the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels in the body.

• The doctor is checking for any issues with your circulatory system.
• Regular exercise is good for your circulatory health.

Best used when describing something that brings about a major change or signifies a large shift, often in a political, technological, or social context.

• The smartphone was a revolutionary invention in communication technology.
• He is known for his revolutionary ideas that transformed the industry.

Appropriate in situations involving spinning or turning around an axis, whether it's for celestial objects or machinery.

• The rotational speed of the Earth affects the length of our days.
• This machine part requires regular lubrication due to its rotational movement.

Used in a physics or astronomy context to describe the path of an electron around a nucleus or a satellite around a planet.

• The orbital path of the electron determines the chemical properties of the element
• The satellite follows a low Earth orbital trajectory

Describes the path followed by a moving object through space, often implying a curved path.

• The trajectory of the rocket had to be carefully calculated
• The car's trajectory was altered by the slippery road

Applied to describe the movement of an object in a circular orbit around another object, like a planet around the sun.

• The Earth's revolution around the sun takes approximately 365
• 25 days
• The moon's revolution around the Earth affects the tides

Refers to the spinning motion of an object around its own axis.

• The Earth's rotation on its axis takes 24 hours, resulting in day and night
• The rotation of the wheel was smooth and continuous