meteor Hear it!

meteor Definition

me·teor (mēt′ē ər, -ē ôr′)

noun

  1. the luminous phenomenon observed when a meteoroid is heated by its entry into the earth's atmosphere; shooting star; falling star
  2. loosely a meteoroid or meteorite
  3. 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)

meteor Synonyms

meteor

n.

falling star, shooting star, meteorite, fireball, bolide, meteroid; see also satellite 1, star 1.

meteor Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • hit: One added extra is a shield which can be used if the ship is about to be hit by a meteor.
  • cause: Fireballs are caused by meteors a few centimeters in diameter and can leave tails that persist for several minutes.

Converse of object

  • observe: That night I observed a great meteor shower in the sky.
  • watch: Come wrapped up warmly to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower.
  • see: We saw an amazing meteor that split in two.
  • call: It calls a massive meteor down from above to level just about any building in the game.
  • detect: This gadget was for detecting meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere, or something like that.

Adjective modifier

  • perseid: Come wrapped up warmly to watch the annual Perseid meteor shower.
  • sporadic: In addition to sporadic meteors, there are also meteor showers during which many meteors may be observed at the same moment.
  • faint: Although they are faint meteors, they can be seen with the naked eye and come in large numbers.
  • fiery: The top glowed against the dark sky and looked in the midst of the smoke like a fiery meteor.
  • bright: We saw what must have been a very low, very bright meteor.
  • giant: Could they be the result of a single, giant meteor crashing to Earth or something else, an entirely new phenomenon?

Modifies a noun

  • shower: Why would meteor showers - the debris trails from comets - be important to these people?
  • crater: They decide to visit a meteor crater, where their car fails to start leaving them stranded in the middle of the Australian outback.
  • storm: Then we hit a meteor storm just beyond Jupiter.
  • strike: In the mayhem that follows a meteor strike on London, the underworld threatens to taken over.
  • crash: Meteor Crash - Google Video Google Video Player is being downloaded.
  • stream: Meteor streams are simply the debris left behind in the inner Solar System by comets.

Preposition: in

  • sky: Find out more Meteors and meteorites ( fact file ) I think I saw a meteor in the sky last night.
meteor Quotes

You will see Coleridgeöhe who sits obscure In the exceeding lustre and the pure Intense irradiation of a mind, Which, through its own internal lighting blind, Flags wearily through darkness and despairö A cloud-encircled meteor of the air, A hooded eagle among blinking owlsö You will see Huntöone of those happy souls Which are the salt of the earth, and without whom This world would smell like what it isöa tomb.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor Ever hung my fate,'mongst things corruptible; I ne'er could pluck it from him. My loathing Was prophet to the rest, but ne'er believed.

—Middleton,Thomas

Now sleeps the crimson petal, now the white; Nor waves the cypress in the palace walk; Nor winks the gold fin in the porphyry font: The fire-fly wakens: waken thou, with me. Now droops the milk-white peacock like a ghost, And like a ghost she glimmers on to me. Now lies the Earth all Dana' to the stars, 842 And all thy heart lies open unto me. Now slides the silent meteor on, and leaves A shining furrow, as thy thoughts in me. Now folds the lily all her sweetness up, And slips into the bosom of the lake: So fold thyself, my dearest, thou, and slip Into my bosom and be lost in me.

—Tennyson

Loose his beard, and hoary hair Streamed, like a meteor, to the troubled air.

—Gray,Thomas