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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Solar System & Planets

Meteorite

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

/ˈmiːtiəraɪt/nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, meteorite means: A piece of rock or metal from space that survives its fall through Earth's atmosphere and lands on the ground.

In Turkish: göktaşı, meteorit

How it is used

Used by scientists, collectors and museums. Meteorites are found, recovered, classified and cut for study. The main types are stony, iron and stony-iron meteorites. A 'fall' is a meteorite seen coming down; a 'find' is one discovered later.

Example sentences

  1. Most meteorites come from asteroids, but a few come from the Moon and Mars.

  2. Villagers collected dozens of meteorite fragments after the fireball.

Common collocations

  • iron meteorite
  • meteorite fall
  • meteorite fragment
  • Martian meteorite
  • find a meteorite
  • meteorThe 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.
  • asteroidA small rocky or metallic body that orbits the Sun. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
  • 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.

More terms: Solar System & Planets

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