French Conversation · Level 2
83 words
French word
orbital
Pronunciation
IPA/ɔʁbital/
Meaning
- adjectiveorbital
Example
La station orbitale accueille de nouveaux astronautes.
The orbital station welcomes new astronauts.
More examples
L'accès à l'espace orbital se démocratise.
Access to orbital space is becoming more widespread.
Core concept
An orbital zone or route encircling a central body and connected with its motion or structure.
Common phrases
satellite orbital
orbital satellite
espace orbital
orbital space
Definition in French
Qui est situé sur une orbite ou qui se rapporte à une orbite; en physique atomique, qualifie ce qui concerne une orbitale électronique.
Word origin
The French adjective orbital developed from orbite by adding -al, and orbite ultimately descends from Latin orbita, meaning a track or course.
Usage tips
- In atomic physics, orbitale is a noun as well as an adjective, so une orbitale means an atomic orbital, whereas orbital agrees with a masculine noun.