1
: an atmospheric phenomenon (such as lightning or a snowfall)
2
a
: any of the small particles of matter in the solar system that are directly observable only by their incandescence from frictional heating on entry into the atmosphere
b
: the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor
Examples of meteor in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The meager, 55-foot meteor that exploded above the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013, for example, wasn’t identified before its arrival, either — and its airborne blast, equivalent to nearly 500,000 tons of TNT, caused widespread damage, which injured at least 1,200 people.
—
Robin George Andrews, New York Times, 20 May 2024
Watchers can expect to see hundreds of meteors fill the sky in the pre-dawn hours.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for meteor 
Robin George Andrews, New York Times, 20 May 2024
Watchers can expect to see hundreds of meteors fill the sky in the pre-dawn hours.
—Simmone Shah, TIME, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for meteor
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'meteor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near meteor
Cite this Entry
“Meteor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteor. Accessed 2 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
meteor
noun
me·te·or
ˈmēt-ē-ər 
-ē-ˌȯ(ə)r
: one of the small bodies of matter in the solar system observable when it falls into the earth's atmosphere where the heat of friction may cause it to glow brightly for a short time
also
: the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor
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