stony meteorite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “stony meteorite” mean?
A type of meteorite composed primarily of silicate minerals, with little or no metallic iron.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of meteorite composed primarily of silicate minerals, with little or no metallic iron.
A common type of meteorite that originates from the crust or mantle of a differentiated asteroid; also used metaphorically to describe something exceptionally hard, unyielding, or ancient in character.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling conventions for related terms (e.g., 'meteorite' vs. 'meteorit') are not applicable here. Potentially more frequent use of the synonym 'stone meteorite' in some US technical contexts.
Connotations
Identical scientific connotations. In metaphorical use, both varieties imply extreme hardness and antiquity.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday speech. Slightly higher frequency in American popular science media due to larger public outreach programs from institutions like NASA.
Grammar
How to Use “stony meteorite” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] stony meteorite [VERB: contained/originated/fell]Scientists [VERB: classified/recovered] the stony meteoriteVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stony meteorite” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The museum's stony-meteorite collection is impressive.
- They conducted a stony-meteorite analysis.
American English
- The stony-meteorite sample was cataloged.
- It was a stony-meteorite find of great significance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Standard term in astronomy, planetary science, and geology.
Everyday
Very rare, only in discussions of space or news about meteorite discoveries.
Technical
Precise classification in meteoritics; often subdivided into chondrites and achondrites.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stony meteorite”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stony meteorite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stony meteorite”
- Misspelling as 'stoney meteorite'.
- Using 'meteor' interchangeably (a meteor is the visible streak of light).
- Pronouncing 'meteorite' with stress on the penultimate syllable (/miːˈtiːəraɪt/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A meteoroid is a small rocky body in space. A meteor (or 'shooting star') is the light phenomenon as it burns up in the atmosphere. A meteorite is what survives the journey and lands on Earth.
No, they are divided into main groups: chondrites (which contain chondrules, small round granules) and achondrites (which lack chondrules and are similar to volcanic rocks).
Stony meteorites often have a dark fusion crust from atmospheric heating, may be magnetic if they contain small amounts of iron, and are typically denser than most Earth rocks.
Deserts and ice fields (like Antarctica) are ideal because meteorites are preserved and easier to spot against a uniform background.
A type of meteorite composed primarily of silicate minerals, with little or no metallic iron.
Stony meteorite is usually specialized/scientific in register.
Stony meteorite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstəʊni ˈmiːtiəraɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstoʊni ˈmiːtiəraɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] a heart like a stony meteorite (extremely unfeeling)”
- “[Metaphorical] resolve of stony meteorite (unyielding determination)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'STONE-Y' from the sky: a STONY METEORITE is a stone from space.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE-PATH-GOAL (originating from an asteroid, travelling through space, landing on Earth); OBJECT (a concrete, physical specimen of cosmic history).
Practice
Quiz
What primarily distinguishes a stony meteorite from an iron meteorite?