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Meaning & use

spatial

adjective·Academictechnical

Last updated

UK/ˈspeɪʃl/
US/ˈspeɪʃl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nountechnical

    Relating to space and how things are placed, sized or arranged within it.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: spatial awareness, spatial layout.

    Patterns

    • spatial awareness
    • spatial reasoning
    • spatial relationships

    Architects need strong spatial skills to imagine how rooms connect.

    The map shows the spatial distribution of schools across the city.

    Children develop spatial awareness through building blocks and puzzles.

  2. adjectivebefore a nountechnicalcomputing

    Concerned with the three-dimensional world, especially in data and design.

    Grammar: Appears in technical fields: spatial data.

    Patterns

    • spatial data
    • spatial analysis

    Spatial data lets planners see where traffic is heaviest.

    The software performs spatial analysis of flood risk.

    Surround sound creates a spatial effect in the cinema.

Common combinations

spatial awareness
Driving needs good spatial awareness.
spatial reasoning
The test measures spatial reasoning with rotating shapes.
spatial relationship
The painting shows an unusual spatial relationship between figures.
spatial data
Spatial data helps firms plan delivery routes.
spatial resolution
The satellite has high spatial resolution.

Synonyms and how they differ

geographic
Geographic ties the idea to places on Earth, while spatial can also apply to rooms, shapes and imaginary space.
dimensional
Dimensional points to measurable size such as length and width, while spatial is about position and arrangement.
positional
Positional refers only to where something is placed, whereas spatial includes size and layout too.

Opposites

temporal

Word family

space noun
the area in which things exist and move
spatially adverb
in terms of space or position
spatiality noun
the quality of occupying space
spatiotemporal adjective
involving both space and time

Commonly confused: spatial or special? spatial or spacious?

spatial vs special

Special means unusual or particular and is pronounced differently. Spatial is about space.

spatial vs spacious

Spacious means having plenty of room, while spatial just means relating to space.

Practice

Packing a suitcase so everything fits takes good ____ reasoning.

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