Dictionary Home » Webster's New World College Dictionary » meteor

meteor

meteor definition

me·teor (mēt′ē ər, -ē ôr′)

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

Etymology: 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)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.