meteor shower

American  

Also meteoric shower

noun

Astronomy.

1. the profusion of meteors observed when the earth passes through a meteor swarm.

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meteor shower British  

noun

1. a transient rain of meteors, such as the Perseids, occurring at regular intervals and coming from a particular region in the sky. It is caused by the earth passing through a large number of meteoroids (a meteor swarm )

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meteor shower Scientific  

1. A brief period of heightened meteor activity, often occurring regularly in a particular part of the sky at a particular time of year. Meteor showers are generally named after the constellation in which they appear to originate; thus the Perseids appear to originate in the constellation Perseus and the Leonids in the constellation Leo. The showers occur when the Earth passes through a region having a greater than usual concentration of interplanetary debris, such as particles left by a disintegrating comet, at certain points in its orbit. Although the meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere on parallel trajectories, perspective makes it appear as if they originate from the same point in the sky, known as the radiant.

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Etymology

Origin of meteor shower

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

According to the Royal Museums Grenwich the Lyrid meteor shower reaches maximum on 22 April and being two days before the First Quarter Moon, the Moon won't cause too much light pollution.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

The Lyrids are not the only meteor shower to visit our skies in April.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

For the best chances of seeing a meteor shower, move away from light pollution, wrap up warm and let your eyes adjust to the night sky for at least 15 minutes.

From BBC • Jan. 3, 2026

The Geminids meteor shower peaks on Sunday 14 December.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

For the first time since that night when I sat in the back of Bo’s truck, watching the meteor shower, I feel like my life is happening.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy