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.
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.