meteorite

noun

me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmē-tē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio)
: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth without being completely vaporized
meteoritic adjective
or less commonly meteoritical

Examples of meteorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Additional analysis indicated minerals in the meteorite at one point interacted with liquid water on Mars, although a specific timeframe couldn’t be established. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024 Veritable zoos of extraterrestrial organics are found in meteorites. Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 13 Nov. 2024 Meanwhile, erosion helped wash coastal debris into the sea and released phosphorus from the meteorite. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024 The spacecraft studied both the effects of meteorites and solar wind on building the moon’s atmosphere. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for meteorite 

Word History

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of meteorite was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near meteorite

Cite this Entry

“Meteorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meteorite. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

meteorite

noun
me·​te·​or·​ite ˈmēt-ē-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce meteorite (audio)
: a meteor that reaches the surface of the earth

More from Merriam-Webster on meteorite

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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