meteor

Meanings

Noun

• An atmospheric or meteorological phenomenon. These were sometimes classified as aerial or airy meteors (winds), aqueous or watery meteors (hydrometeors: clouds, rain, snow, hail, dew, frost), luminous meteors (rainbows and aurora), and igneous or fiery meteors (lightning and shooting stars).
• A fast-moving streak of light in the night sky caused by the entry of extraterrestrial matter into the earth's atmosphere; a shooting star or falling star.
• A prop similar to poi balls, in that it is twirled at the end of a cord or cable.
• A striking weapon resembling a track and field hammer consisting of a weight swung at the end of a cable or chain.
• Any short-lived source of wonderment.

Verb

• To move at great speed.

Related

Similar words

• falling star, shooting star, faxed star

Origin

• From Middle French météore, from Old French, from Latin meteorum, from Ancient Greek μετέωρον, from μετέωρος, from μετά (English meta) + ἀείρω.
• The original sense of “atmospheric phenomenon” gave rise to meteorology, but the meaning of "meteor" is now restricted to extraterrestrial objects burning up as they enter the atmosphere.