meteorite

[mee-tee-uh-rahyt]

noun

1. a mass of stone or metal that has reached the earth from outer space; a fallen meteoroid.

2. a meteoroid.

meteorite

/ ˌmiːtɪəˈrɪtɪk, ˈmiːtɪəˌraɪt /

noun

1. a rocklike object consisting of the remains of a meteoroid that has fallen on earth. It may be stony (chondrite), iron, or stony iron (pallasite) See chondrite

meteorite

1. A meteor that reaches the Earth's surface because it has not been burned up by friction with the atmosphere. Meteorites are believed to be fragments of comets and asteroids.

2. ◆ Meteorites that consist mostly of silicates are called stony meteorites and are classified as either chondrites or achondrites.

3. ◆ Meteorites that consist mostly of iron are called iron meteorites.

4. ◆ Meteorites that consist of a mixture of silicates and iron are called stony-iron meteorites.

Other Word Forms

• meteoritic adjective
• meteoritical adjective
• meteorital adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of meteorite¹

First recorded in 1815–25; meteor + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The researchers also suggest that similar high-energy irradiation processes may explain how diamonds form naturally in meteorites or uranium-rich rocks.

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Over time, this material coalesced into solid objects, forming the first meteorites.

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The discovery focuses on rare natural glass called tektites, which form when a meteorite hits Earth with enough force to melt the surface and fling molten material vast distances.

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When they do reach lower altitudes, the result is typically a spectacular fireball, sometimes followed by tiny meteorites scattered across the ground.

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Those who made it to the end with him had the choice to return to the real world, where they awoke as survivors of a meteorite impact in Shibuya with no recollection of the Borderlands.

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