adjective
spatial
SPAY-shul/ˈspeɪʃl/
Relating to space and how things are positioned within it.
The blocks demonstrate spatial relationships by standing above, beside, and behind each other.
Etymology
Spatium names room, area, or distance, so spatial concerns the extent things occupy and their positions relative to one another. It was formed as the space-related counterpart of temporal.
In context
we can know the sort of arrangement of physical objects which results from their spatial relations
More examples
- The architect studies the spatial relationships between rooms.
- Children develop spatial skills by building with blocks.
- This map shows the spatial distribution of trees in the park.
Forms
spatially adverb — In relation to space or arrangement.
Similar words
- positional
- Focuses on a particular location rather than space generally.
- geometric
- Concerns shapes and measurements rather than physical arrangement generally.