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

After significant activity in 2010, 2015 and 2020, 2025 looks set to feature an uptick in meteor rates — and there’s already early evidence for that. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

The whole club was just like it had been hit by a meteor. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025

Stargazers hoping to see meteors with the longest tails should allow 30 minutes for their eyes to adjust to the dark and stare into a patch of sky roughly 40 degrees away from the radiant. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025

In 2014, military satellites observed a half-metre-long meteor in the sky near Papua New Guinea. —Matthew Hutson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 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