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meteor

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The definition of a meteor is a small body of matter from outer space that comes into the atmosphere of the Earth and that looks like a streak of light due to iridescence caused by friction.

(noun)

A shooting star caused by a small object from outer space entering the earth's atmosphere is an example of a meteor.

See meteor in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the luminous phenomenon observed when a meteoroid is heated by its entry into the earth's atmosphere; shooting star; falling star
loosely a meteoroid or meteorite
Meteorol. any atmospheric phenomenon, as precipitation, lightning, or a rainbow

Origin: ME < ML meteorum < Gr meteōron, pl. meteōra, things in the air < meteōros, lifted up, in air < meta, beyond (see meta-) + eōra, a hovering in the air (akin to aeirein, to lift up)

See meteor in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A bright trail or streak that appears in the sky when a meteoroid is heated to incandescence by friction with the earth's atmosphere. Also called falling star, meteor burst, shooting star.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English metheour, atmospheric phenomenon

Origin: , from Old French meteore

Origin: , from Medieval Latin meteōrum

Origin: , from Greek meteōron, astronomical phenomenon

Origin: , from

Origin: neuter of meteōros, high in the air

Origin: : meta-, meta-

Origin: + -āoros, lifted

Origin: ; akin to āeirein, to lift up; see wer-¹ in Indo-European roots

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