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

See Examples For:

meteor shower

Visitors are encouraged to stay after the partial solar eclipse to watch the Perseids meteor shower.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Several hours later, the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak later in the night, and overnight into Thursday.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Later on Aug. 12, the Perseid meteor shower will begin its peak, continuing into the early morning of Aug. 13.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

Aug. 12 and 13: The Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak under exceptionally dark skies.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

I’m propped on my bed drawing Brian, who’s a few feet away at my desk watching a meteor shower on some astronomy site he’s addicted to.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson