View synonyms for meteorite

meteorite

[ mee-tee-uh-rahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

meteorite

/ ˌmiːtɪəˈrɪtɪk; ˈmiːtɪəˌraɪt /

See chondrite
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

/ mē′tē-ə-rīt′ /

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.
◆ Meteorites that consist mostly of silicates are called stony meteorites and are classified as either chondrites or achondrites.
◆ Meteorites that consist mostly of iron are called iron meteorites.
◆ Meteorites that consist of a mixture of silicates and iron are called stony-iron meteorites.

me·te·or·it·ic [mee-tee-, uh, -, rit, -ik], mete·or·iti·cal me·te·or·it·al [mee-tee-, uh, -, rahyt, -l], adjective

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

For example, a common type of meteorite has similar mineral content to Earth, but a lot less deuterium.

But how many of them remember the CNN host who asked whether the Russian meteorite had been caused by global warming?

You haven't forgotten how the natives of Giant Land feared the meteorite and insisted that we take it away.

His people think we are great magicians or else witch doctors, and Amo wrote begging us to take the meteorite from his land.

All of them appeared exhausted, but Tom's eyes expressed the greatest satisfaction when he saw the meteorite safely aboard.

Thus it was that the great meteorite reached the top long before Tom and the two natives did.

Ned Newton wired that the meteorite had been safely placed on a fast freight train.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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