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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Solar System & Planets

Meteor

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

/ˈmiːtiər/nounCore term

In astronomy & space, meteor means: The bright streak of light seen when a small piece of rock or dust from space burns up in Earth's atmosphere. The piece itself is called a meteoroid.

In Turkish: meteor, akan yıldız, kayan yıldız

How it is used

Used by observers counting meteors during a shower and in news about very bright 'fireballs'. In informal English people say 'shooting star' or 'falling star'.

Example sentences

  1. We counted more than forty meteors in an hour during the Perseids.

  2. A very bright meteor lit up the sky over the city last night.

Common collocations

  • bright meteor
  • meteor shower
  • see a meteor
  • meteor trail
  • count meteors
  • meteoriteA piece of rock or metal from space that survives its fall through Earth's atmosphere and lands on the ground.
  • meteor showerA period when many meteors seem to come from the same point in the sky, as Earth passes through dust left by a comet or an asteroid. Showers return on the same dates every year.
  • cometA small icy body that orbits the Sun. When it comes close to the Sun, its ice turns to gas and forms a glowing cloud and often long tails.
  • asteroidA small rocky or metallic body that orbits the Sun. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

More terms: Solar System & Planets

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