meteor

noun

me·​te·​or ˈmē-tē-ər 

-ˌȯr

1

: an atmospheric phenomenon (such 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

Examples of meteor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These exceptionally bright meteors burst with intense light and often linger longer than a typical shooting star. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025

With an integration time of 7 hours, 14 meteors were captured in this composite, tracked image utilising the image sequence. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025

The Perseid meteor shower is considered the best of the year due to how many meteors viewers can see, about 50 to 100 per hour, according to NASA. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

However, the presence of a still bright waning full moon will make the faintest meteors impossible to see. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025

Word History

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing meteor

• meteor shower

Kids Definition

meteor

noun

me·​te·​or ˈmēt-ē-ər 

-ē-ˌȯ(ə)r

: one of the small bodies of matter in the solar system observable when it falls into the earth's atmosphere where the heat of friction may cause it to glow brightly for a short time

also : the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor