meteor
/ˈmiːtɪə
/ /ˈmiːtɪɔː/noun
A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth’s atmosphere, becoming incandescent as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light.Whitehead thinks that the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere at a low angle....
- It may also raise the number of random meteors seen from Earth streaking across the sky.
- There are meteors and comets and supernovas and yes, black holes.
Synonyms
falling star, shooting star, fireball, meteorite, bolide, meteoroid, comet
Origin
Mid 16th century (denoting any atmospheric phenomenon): from modern Latin meteorum, from Greek meteōron, neuter (used as a noun) of meteōros 'lofty'.
In early use the term was used for any atmospheric phenomenon: it comes via modern Latin from Greek meteōron ‘of the atmosphere’, from meteōros ‘lofty’. The same source gave us meteorology (early 17th century).