Main Entry:

me·te·or

Pronunciation:

\ˈmē-tē-ər, -ˌȯr\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English metheour, from Middle French meteore, from Medieval Latin meteorum, from Greek meteōron, from neuter of meteōros high in air, from meta- + -eōros, from aeirein to lift

Date:

15th century

1: an atmospheric phenomenon (as lightning or a snowfall)2 a: any of the small particles of matter in the solar system that are directly observable only by their incandescence from frictional heating on entry into the atmosphere b: the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor