meteorite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Scientific, Academic. Also used in everyday contexts when discussing astronomy or related news.
Quick answer
What does “meteorite” mean?
A solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.
The term can be used metaphorically to describe something that arrives suddenly and with significant impact, or an object that is conspicuously foreign or out of place in its current environment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical scientific connotations. Minor potential differences in common collocations based on regional news coverage of events.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US media and discourse due to larger public engagement with space exploration and events like the annual Perseid meteor shower.
Grammar
How to Use “meteorite” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] meteorite [VERBed] [LOCATION].Scientists [VERB] the meteorite for [NOUN].A meteorite [VERBed] from the sky.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meteorite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The object was confirmed to have meteorited in the Yorkshire Dales.
- (Rare/Technical)
American English
- The debris field shows where the asteroid meteorited. (Rare/Technical)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form used.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form used.)
adjective
British English
- The museum has a superb meteoritic collection.
- They analysed the meteoritic dust.
American English
- The crater shows clear meteoritic origin.
- Meteoritic iron was used by ancient cultures.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in contexts like mining rare minerals from meteorites or insuring against meteorite damage.
Academic
Common in geology, astronomy, planetary science, and astrophysics papers and lectures.
Everyday
Used in news reports about meteor sightings and impacts, museum visits, or hobbyist discussions.
Technical
Precise classification into types: chondrites, achondrites, iron, stony-iron. Discussed in terms of composition, isotopic ratios, and origin.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meteorite”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meteorite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meteorite”
- Using 'meteor' and 'meteorite' interchangeably. Pronouncing it as /ˈmiː.tər.ɪt/ (meteor-it).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A meteoroid is a small particle in space. When it enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, creating a streak of light, it's called a meteor (or 'shooting star'). If any part of it survives and lands on Earth, that remnant is called a meteorite.
Contrary to popular belief, meteorites are often cold or only slightly warm upon impact. The intense heat from atmospheric friction ablates the surface, but the interior remains cold, and the fall through the colder upper atmosphere can chill it.
Common indicators are a dark fusion crust from melting, high density (heavy for its size), magnetism (due to iron/nickel content), and sometimes thumbprint-like indentations called regmaglypts. Professional analysis is needed for confirmation.
Most originate from asteroids in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. A small, scientifically precious fraction come from the Moon or Mars, blasted off their surfaces by larger impacts.
A solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon.
Meteorite is usually formal, scientific, academic. also used in everyday contexts when discussing astronomy or related news. in register.
Meteorite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.ti.ə.raɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmiː.t̬i.ə.raɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bolt from the blue (metaphorically similar for sudden impact).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Meteor-Ite: I see it land. Remember, the 'ite' ending often means 'a mineral or rock' (like granite), and this is a rock from a meteor.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUDDEN IMPACT IS A METEORITE STRIKE. (e.g., 'Her resignation was a meteorite hitting the company.')
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a common type of meteorite?