Definition of Meteor

1. Noun. (astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere.

Exact synonyms: Meteoroid
Category relationships: Astronomy, Uranology
Generic synonyms: Estraterrestrial Body, Extraterrestrial Object
Specialized synonyms: Meteorite, Meteor Swarm
Derivative terms: Meteoric

2. Noun. A streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth's atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode.
Exact synonyms: Shooting Star
Generic synonyms: Light, Visible Light, Visible Radiation
Specialized synonyms: Bolide, Fireball
Group relationships: Meteor Shower, Meteor Stream

Definition of Meteor

1. n. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc.

Definition of Meteor

1. Noun. (archaic) Any atmospheric phenomenon. (Thus the derivation of ''meteorology.'') These were sometimes classified as ''aerial'' or ''airy'' meteors (winds), ''aqueous'' or ''watery'' meteors (hydrometeors: clouds, rain, snow, hail, dew, frost), ''luminous'' meteors (rainbows and aurora), and ''igneous'' or ''fiery'' meteors (lightning and shooting stars [next]). ¹

2. Noun. A fast-moving streak of light in the night sky caused by the entry of extraterrestrial matter into the earth's atmosphere: A shooting star or falling star. ¹

3. Noun. (juggling) A prop similar to ''poi balls'', in that it is twirled at the end of a cord or cable. ¹

4. Noun. (martial arts) A striking weapon resembling a track and field hammer consisting of a weight swung at the end of a cable or chain. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Meteor

1. a small celestial body that enters the earth's atmosphere [n -S] : METEORIC [adj]

Medical Definition of Meteor

1. 1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc. "Hail, an ordinary meteor." (Bp. Hall) 2. Specif., A transient luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region. "The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors." (Shak) The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth; also to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting stars, and the like. Origin: F. Meteore, Gr, pl. Things in the air, fr. High in air, raised off the ground; beyond +, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr. To lift, raise up. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Meteor

metempsychosed
metempsychoses
metempsychosing
metempsychosis
metempsychotic
metencephala
metencephalic
metencephalin
metencephalins
metencephalon
metencephalons
metenkephalin
metensomatoses
metensomatosis
meteor (current term)
meteor shower
meteor showers
meteor stream
meteor swarm
meteoric
meteoric water
meteorical
meteorically
meteorism
meteorite
meteorites
meteoritic
meteoritical
meteoriticist

Literary usage of Meteor

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature by Anna Lorraine Guthrie, Marion A. Knight, H.W. Wilson Company, Estella E. Painter (1920)
"Nature 97:443-6 Л 27 46 meteor crater, Arizona meteor crater (formerly called ... Pop Astron 25:635-7 D '17 See alto Leonids; also American meteor society ..."

2. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1917)
"M., an unusually bright meteor appeared over the central part of Texas. ... Evidently the path this meteor followed was at a considerable angle to the ..."

3. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society by Royal Astronomical Society (1866)
"On the zist of November, 1865, at 6h 5™ GMT, a meteor about three times as bright ... The meteor rose from the eastern horizon, being surrounded at first, ..."

4. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific by Astronomical Society of the Pacific (1896)
"meteor SEEN AT NOON (NOVEMBER i). A meteor, leaving a broad scintillating track, traversed fifteen degrees of the northwestern heavens at about ten minutes ..."

5. Report of the Annual Meeting (1900)
"The meteor track (when observed) is marked in pencil along a celluloid ... I find I can hold my ej'e far more steadily ou the meteor's place than a wand ..."

6. The Popular Science MonthlyScience (1893)
"Appearances attending the passage of a meteor (Misc.), 8 : 766. ... meteor-showers on the night of November 27, 1872 (Misc.), 3 : 123. meteoric stones (5 p. ..."

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