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Meteoroid - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in space, smaller than an asteroid. When it enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, it becomes a meteor or shooting star.

meteoroid

/ˈmitiərɔɪd/ /ˈmiːtɪərɔɪd/

Definition:

A small rocky or metallic body traveling through space, smaller than an asteroid.

Synonyms:

space rock, cosmic debris, celestial fragment

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

planet, star (contextual opposites)

Common Collocations:

meteoroid impact, meteoroid shower, meteoroid debris

Derivatives:

meteoroidal, meteoroids

Usage Tips:

Use "meteoroid" for objects in space; "meteor" when it enters Earth's atmosphere, "meteorite" if it reaches the ground.

Common Phrases:

shooting star (informal), cosmic dust cloud, fiery streak in the sky

Etymology:

From Greek "meteōron" (thing in the air) + "-oid" (resembling), coined in the 19th century.

Examples:

  • 1. The meteoroid glowed brightly as it entered the atmosphere.
  • 2. Scientists study meteoroids to learn about the early solar system.
  • 3. A large meteoroid could cause significant damage if it hit Earth.
  • 4. The telescope captured images of a distant meteoroid belt.

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