shooting star

noun

1. meteor ( def 1b ).
2. Also called American cowslip, any of several North American plants of the genus Dodecatheon, especially D. meadia, having pink or white flowers with reflexed petals and stamens forming a pointed beak.

shooting star

noun

1. See meteor
   an informal name for meteor

Word History and Origins

Origin of shooting star¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

The shooting stars in a meteor shower will appear across the sky.

From Science News For Students

Two of the mirrored orbs spun wildly together like a dancing couple throwing shooting stars into the darkened room.

From Time

With clear skies, you should be able catch a few of the shower’s brightest shooting stars.

From Washington Post

A shooting star flickered above me and vanished in an instant.

From The Daily Beast

Because you shoot like a bomb or a shooting star, but then it falls down.

From The Daily Beast

We next proceed to the phenomenon generally called Falling or Shooting Star.

From Project Gutenberg

A shooting star falling near a house, foretells an early death in that dwelling.

From Project Gutenberg

The third brother was Tecumseh, "the wild-cat that leaps upon its prey," or "the shooting star," as the name has been translated.

From Project Gutenberg

It is this misleading appearance that probably is responsible for the name shooting star.

From Project Gutenberg

The shooting-star, a near relative of the cyclamen, is as thick upon the earth as stars up in the sky.

From Project Gutenberg