meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrȯid 

1

: a meteor particle itself without relation to the phenomena it produces when entering the earth's atmosphere

2

: a meteor in orbit around the sun

meteoroidal

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈrȯi-dᵊl 

adjective

Examples of meteoroid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meteorites are deposits from meteoroids, planetary fragments traveling at extremely high speeds through space that get pulled into planets’ orbits. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 24 July 2026

Those crystals develop around microscopic dust particles left behind when meteoroids burn up high above Earth, creating the shimmering blue and silver patterns visible after sunset. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Rather, our solar system is a celestial shooting gallery, chock-full of flying projectiles—not just meteoroids but larger bodies, such as comets, asteroids, and other cosmic detritus—and Earth is right in the firing line. — Govert Schilling, Scientific American, 27 June 2026

The new method led to a classification system that ranks a meteoroid's hardness. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for meteoroid

• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• celluloid
• coronoid
• humanoid

Kids Definition

meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrȯid 

: a meteor revolving around the sun