meteoroid

noun me·te·or·oid \ ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrȯid \

Definition of meteoroid

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

play \ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈrȯi-dᵊl\ adjective

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Recent Examples of meteoroid from the Web

Tiny meteoroids are likely to blame for these Martian metals.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Mars Has Metal in Its Atmosphere," 13 Apr. 2017
The meteoroids slam into the atmosphere at high speeds and vaporize.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Mars Has Metal in Its Atmosphere," 13 Apr. 2017
Electronic signals indicated that Skylab’s heat shield, which protected the space laboratory from meteoroids and high temperatures, had been sheared off during liftoff.

— matt schudel, Washington Post, "Paul Weitz, astronaut who helped repair Skylab and commanded space shuttle, dies at 85," 24 Oct. 2017
The meteoroids slam into the atmosphere at high speeds and vaporize.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Mars Has Metal in Its Atmosphere," 13 Apr. 2017
Tiny meteoroids are likely to blame for these Martian metals.

— erin blakemore, Smithsonian, "Mars Has Metal in Its Atmosphere," 13 Apr. 2017
Even tiny meteoroids are capable of damaging the International Space Station, and the space suits used by spacewalkers.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Spacecraft camera built in San Diego survives meteoroid strike near the moon," 2 June 2017
A camera that San Diego’s Malin Space Science Systems built for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter survived a direct strike from a tiny meteoroid while the spacecraft was photographing the moon’s surface.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Spacecraft camera built in San Diego survives meteoroid strike near the moon," 2 June 2017
The small meteoroid was discovered earlier today by the Mt. Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, and quick calculations showed it was headed for Earth.

— betsy mason, WIRED, "Meteor Predicted to Hit Earth’s Atmosphere Tonight," 6 Oct. 2008

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meteoroid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of meteoroid

1865

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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meteoroid

Definition of meteoroid

meteoroidal

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meteoroid

Definition of meteoroid

meteoroidal

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