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

The Artemis 2 astronauts remained vigilant while zipping around the far side of the moon last month, on the ready to record meteoroid impact flashes on the lunar landscape. —Leonard David, Space.com, 8 May 2026

The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 May 2026

During the eclipse, as the moon was cloaked in darkness, the crew members spotted flashes of light from meteoroids smacking into the lunar surface. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026

Seismometers offer silver bullets, allowing scientists to use moonquakes (whether homegrown or imported via lunar impacts of errant meteoroids) to effectively perform a CT scan of the deep subsurface. —Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for meteoroid

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

Kids Definition

meteoroid

noun

me·​te·​or·​oid ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrȯid 

: a meteor revolving around the sun