orbital
/ˈɔːbɪtl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔːrbɪtl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯr-bə-tᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɔː.bɪ.təl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔːr.bɪ.t̬əl/ (ame, ipa)
orbital — 形容詞
- orbitalpositive
- more orbitalcomparative
- most orbitalsuperlative
1. describing the curved route a moon, satellite, or other space-travelling body fo
軌道的
與太空中天體運行軌道有關的
describing the curved route a moon, satellite, or other space-travelling body follows as it moves repeatedly around something larger like Earth, the Sun, or a planet
Aarav spent three years studying the orbital path of distant comets.
Aarav 花了三年研究遠方彗星的軌道路徑。
orbital + path (the typical noun pairing)
Engineers checked the satellite's orbital speed before the final adjustment.
工程師在最後調整前再次確認衛星的軌道速度。
orbital + speed/velocity (technical noun pairing)
The mission failed because of a small error in the orbital calculations.
任務失敗，是因為軌道計算上的一個小錯誤。
Old orbital debris from broken satellites threatens new spacecraft above Earth.
壞掉衛星留下的舊軌道殘骸，威脅到地球上方的新太空船。
Hugo's team designed a small camera that survives the orbital cold.
Hugo 的團隊設計了一台能撐過軌道低溫的小型相機。
文法句型
orbital + noun (path, mechanics, debris, velocity)
用法筆記
Used almost only before a noun (attributive). Common noun partners include path, speed, velocity, mechanics, debris, decay, plane. Rare in everyday talk outside science, news about space, and engineering.
常見錯誤
2. in medical or anatomy texts, describing the bony hollow that holds the eye and t
眼窩的
醫學上指眼眶骨周圍區域的
in medical or anatomy texts, describing the bony hollow that holds the eye and the muscles around it
Dr. Sayaka asked for a scan to check the patient's orbital bone.
Sayaka 醫師要求做一次掃描，檢查病人的眼窩骨。
orbital + bone (the most common medical pairing)
The boxer suffered an orbital fracture after the heavy punch.
拳擊手在那記重拳之後出現眼窩骨折。
orbital fracture = a break in the bone around the eye
Surgeons rebuilt the orbital floor using a thin piece of plastic.
醫師用一片薄薄的塑膠片重建眼窩底部。
After the car crash, Kofi was treated for swelling around the orbital rim.
車禍之後，Kofi 因眼眶周圍腫脹接受治療。
- ocular
also medical, but refers to the eye itself rather than the bone around it
文法句型
orbital + body-part noun (bone, floor, rim, cavity)
用法筆記
Strictly medical or anatomy register; everyday speakers say around the eye or eye socket. The noun is the eye socket itself; 'orbital' is the adjective form for muscles, bones, fractures, or surgery in that area.
3. describing a road, motorway, or route that loops right round the outside of an u
環城的
繞著城鎮外圍興建的（道路）
describing a road, motorway, or route that loops right round the outside of an urban area so drivers do not need to enter the busy middle
Pim took the orbital motorway to avoid the busy city centre.
Pim 走環城高速公路，避開繁忙的市中心。
orbital + motorway (typical British pairing)
The new orbital route saved Heather almost an hour during rush hour.
新的環城路線讓 Heather 在尖峰時段省下將近一小時。
Heavy lorries are now required to use the orbital road around the old town.
現在規定大型卡車一律走老城外圍的環城道路。
An accident on the orbital section left thousands of drivers stuck for hours.
環城路段的車禍讓上千名駕駛卡在路上好幾個小時。
- ring
common in 'ring road'; same idea but used as a noun modifier rather than an adjective
文法句型
orbital + road/motorway/route
用法筆記
Mainly British English. Often pairs with motorway, road, route, or section. Distinct from sense 1 (space): you cannot swap them — 'orbital traffic' on a motorway is not the same as 'orbital path' in space.
常見錯誤
orbital — 名詞
- orbitalsingular
- orbitalsplural
1. in chemistry and physics, a small region of space inside an atom where up to two
電子軌域
原子內電子最可能出現的空間區域
in chemistry and physics, a small region of space inside an atom where up to two electrons are most likely to be found at any given moment
Élise drew each orbital as a cloud shape rather than a fixed line.
Élise 把每個電子軌域畫成雲狀，而不是固定的線。
orbital as 'cloud shape' (key chemistry teaching frame)
Two electrons in the same orbital must spin in opposite directions.
同一個電子軌域裡的兩個電子必須以相反方向自旋。
rule: two electrons per orbital (Pauli pattern)
The chemistry teacher asked Asher to label every orbital on the diagram.
化學老師請 Asher 在圖上標出每一個電子軌域。
Carbon has four electrons in its outer orbitals available for bonding.
碳的外層電子軌域裡有四個電子可以用來形成化學鍵。
- electron shell
a broader group of orbitals at similar energy; not the same as one orbital, but often discussed together
文法句型
the/a + orbital
atomic/molecular + orbital
用法筆記
Strictly a chemistry and physics term — different from a planet's orbit, because an orbital is a 3-D region, not a single line. Common left-modifiers: atomic, molecular, outer, inner, p-orbital, d-orbital.
常見錯誤
2. a body piercing made from two small holes placed close together, usually on the
雙孔耳環洞
兩個小孔以一個圓環相連的穿洞
a body piercing made from two small holes placed close together, usually on the ear, that are joined by one ring of jewellery passing through both holes
Beatriz wanted an orbital on her upper ear for her eighteenth birthday.
Beatriz 想在十八歲生日時，在耳朵上方打一個雙孔耳環洞。
get an orbital (on the upper ear) — typical learner context
Aylin chose a small gold ring to wear through her new orbital.
Aylin 挑了一個小金環，穿在她新打的雙孔耳環洞上。
The shop refused to do an orbital piercing without a parent's written permission.
店家拒絕在沒有家長書面同意的情況下做雙孔耳環穿孔。
Christopher said his orbital took almost three months to heal properly.
Christopher 說他的雙孔耳環洞花了將近三個月才完全癒合。
文法句型
get/have + an + orbital
用法筆記
Used in body-modification and jewellery shops. The key visual feature is one ring passing through TWO holes — that's what makes it 'orbital' rather than two separate piercings. Often paired with 'piercing': 'an orbital piercing'.
常見錯誤
3. a large road that has been built in a loop right round the edge of an urban area
環城公路
繞著城市外圍的大型道路
a large road that has been built in a loop right round the edge of an urban area, used by drivers who want to skip the busy middle
Justin met his colleagues at a service stop on the London orbital.
Justin 和同事約在倫敦環城公路的休息站碰面。
the [city name] orbital (the M25 etc.)
An overturned truck closed the orbital for almost the whole morning.
一輛翻覆的卡車讓環城公路封閉了將近一個上午。
passive setting: 'closed the orbital'
Iker prefers the orbital to driving through the noisy city centre.
Iker 寧願走環城公路，也不願穿過吵鬧的市中心。
Heavy snow made several lanes on the orbital impossible to use last night.
昨晚的大雪讓環城公路上好幾個車道無法通行。
文法句型
the + orbital
the + city name + orbital
用法筆記
Mainly British, mostly used with 'the' (the London orbital, the Birmingham orbital). Different from adjective sense 3 — here 'orbital' stands alone as the road itself; the adjective sense needs a following noun like 'motorway' or 'road'.