mesosphere

noun

me·​so·​sphere ˈme-zə-ˌsfir 

ˈmē-,

-sə-

: the part of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases with altitude to the atmosphere's absolute minimum

mesospheric

ˌme-zə-ˈsfir-ik 

ˌmē-

-sə-

-ˈsfer-

adjective

Examples of mesosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So as to keep from soaring clean into the mesosphere at the first gust of a wind, the Canopy anchors to the vehicle via a series of elastic bands and suction cups and also stakes down to the ground. —New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2024

Falling spacecraft gradually ablate — the technical term for burning up — about 40 miles above the ground, in the mesosphere, which sits above the stratosphere. —Ramin Skibba, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2024

The volcanic eruption shot gas and ash 36 miles up into Earth’s mesosphere, higher than the plume from any other volcano on record. —Rahul Rao, Popular Science, 7 Sep. 2023

Meteors typically occur in the mesosphere, which is around 30 to 50 miles from Earth’s surface. —Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

meso- + -sphere

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mesosphere

noun

me·​so·​sphere ˈmez-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

ˈmēz-,

ˈmēs-,

ˈmes-

: a layer of the atmosphere extending from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about 50 miles (80 kilometers)