meteor

Meaning

Noun

1. An atmospheric or meteorological phenomenon. These were sometimes classified as aerial or airy meteors (winds), aqueous or watery meteors (hydrometeors: clouds, rain, snow, hail, dew, frost), luminous meteors (rainbows and aurora), and igneous or fiery meteors (lightning and shooting stars).
2. A fast-moving streak of light in the night sky caused by the entry of extraterrestrial matter into the earth's atmosphere; a shooting star or falling star.
3. A prop similar to poi balls, in that it is twirled at the end of a cord or cable.
4. A striking weapon resembling a track and field hammer consisting of a weight swung at the end of a cable or chain.
5. (figuratively) Any short-lived source of wonderment.

Verb

To move at great speed.

Synonyms

shooting star

falling star

meteorite

meteoroid

fireball

atmospheric phenomenon

comet

☄️

star

⭐

thief

aerolite

Translations

météore

meteoro

meteora

meteoro

Meteor

meteoor

Sternschnuppe

meteor

μετέωρο

étoile filante

metéoro

stella cadente

estrela cadente

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmiːtɪ.ə/

Etymology

From Middle French météore, from Old French, from Latin meteorum, from Ancient Greek μετέωρον (metéōron), from μετέωρος (metéōros, “raised from the ground, hanging, lofty”), from μετά (metá, “in the midst of, among, between”) (English meta) + ἀείρω (aeírō, “to lift, to heave, to raise up”).
The original sense of “atmospheric phenomenon” gave rise to meteorology, but the meaning of "meteor" is now restricted to extraterrestrial objects burning up as they enter the atmosphere.