meteorite

noun

me·te·or·ite ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt

: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized

meteoritic

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈri-tik

adjective

or less commonly meteoritical

ˌmē-tē-ə-ˈri-ti-kəl

Examples of meteorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Earth’s earliest forms of calcite, for example, developed through the watery alteration of meteorites; microbes then began to build other calcite structures 2.5 billion years ago, whereas snails and clams created new combinations beginning only 100 million years ago. —

Paul Voosen, science.org, 1 Nov. 2024 The Massalia family, on the other hand, is responsible for a type of meteorite called L chondrites, which make up 37 percent of Earth’s meteorites. —

Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024 While meteorites range from the size of a pebble to a closed fist, asteroids are almost like mini planets, the largest measuring about 600 miles across. —

Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2024 This came out to roughly 120 smaller meteorites—and only one larger rock—annually. —

Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for meteorite