spatial

adjective

spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl How to pronounce spatial (audio)
variants or less commonly spacial
1
: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space
2
: of, relating to, or involved in the perception of relationships (as of objects) in space
tests of spatial ability
spatial memory
spatiality noun
or less commonly spaciality
spatially adverb
or less commonly spacially

Examples of spatial in a Sentence

When patients have this kind of problem, they can't feel the relationship between their body and their feet, so they must rely on visual cues to keep themselves upright. Without these cues, they lose their spatial orientation and fall. John Pettinato, Discover, October 2004
Williams syndrome, which was first described in 1961, results when a group of genes on one copy of chromosome 7 is deleted during embryonic development. Most people with Williams resemble each other more than they do their families, with wide-set hazel eyes, upturned noses, and wide mouths. They also share a peculiar set of mental impairments. Most stumble over the simplest spatial tasks, such as putting together a puzzle, and many not read or write beyond the level of a first grader. U.S. News & World Report, 15 June 1998
Several new ground-based and orbiting astronomical facilities that could provide high spatial and spectral resolution appear technologically ready for development during the next several decades. Robert D. Gehrz et al., Science, 25 May 1984
the spatial dimensions of a room
Recent Examples on the Web Apple’s audio engineers have also implemented spatial audio in these cans, which creates a more natural and realistic listening experience. Tim Chan, Variety, 23 Mar. 2024 Plus, Bose is offering Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Earbuds for $50 off, boasting spatial audio for fantastic sound and personalized noise cancellation. Michael Stefanov, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024 The new MacBooks feature a 1080p FaceTime camera, three microphones, and support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Emma Roth, The Verge, 4 Mar. 2024 The six-driver speaker is far more immersive than the Era 100, especially when playing a spatial audio track or used as a pair of rear channels for a soundbar. Brandon Widder, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024 At a glance, the city of Los Angeles appears to have robust leafy coverage, but the reality is more complex, according to a report on the county’s tree canopy assessment using 2016 spatial data. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 In just one 30-minute demo, the spatial computer made quite an impression on me. Essence, 2 Mar. 2024 The recent release of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple’s first spatial computer, as well as the spatial video capabilities of the iPhone 15, as well as the Meta Quest 3, and new AI hardware are helping set the stage for a new era of computing. Cathy Hackl, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 The Apple Vision Pro, the company's first spatial computer, will be available at all U.S. Apple store locations and online Friday, Feb. 2. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spatial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin spatium space

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spatial was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near spatial

Cite this Entry

“Spatial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spatial. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spatial

adjective
spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl How to pronounce spatial (audio)
: of or relating to space
spatially adverb

Medical Definition

spatial

adjective
spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl How to pronounce spatial (audio)
1
: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space
affected with spatial disorientation
2
: of or relating to facility in perceiving relations (as of objects) in space
tests of spatial ability
spatially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on spatial

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