meteor

noun

me·​te·​or ˈmē-tē-ər How to pronounce meteor (audio)
-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
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Storm forecasts on the horizon Hundreds or even thousands of shooting stars may be seen burning through Earth's skies each hour during one of these intense meteor storm events, though the distance separating micrometeoroids in space would still likely be measured on the order of miles. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 7 June 2026 The American Meteor Society said the meteor in question was about 3 feet wide and entered the atmosphere around the New Hampshire border with Massachusetts. Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026 An unsettling boom heard over the greater Boston area on Saturday may have come from an exploding meteor. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 1 June 2026 See videos from Massachusetts meteor explosion Here's a look at videos capturing the sights and sounds of the meteor. Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for meteor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of meteor was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Meteor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteor. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

meteor

noun
me·​te·​or ˈmēt-ē-ər How to pronounce meteor (audio)
-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

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