Meteor

mē′te-or, n. one of numberle small bodies travelling through space, continually being encountered by the earth on its orbital path, and then revealed to our observation as aerolites, fire-balls, or shooting-stars: formerly used of any appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain: ( fig. ) anything that for a time dazzles or strikes with wonder.— adj. Meteor′ic , pertaining to, or consisting of, meteors: proceeding from a meteor: flashing like a meteor: influenced by the weather.— ns. Mē′teorograph , an instrument by which several meteorological elements are recorded in combination; Meteor′olite , Mē′teorite , a meteoric stone.— adjs. Meteorolog′ic , -al .— ns. Meteorol′ogist ; one skilled in meteorology; Meteorol′ogy , that department of physics which treats of the phenomena of the atmosphere as regards weather and climate.— adj. Mē′tēorous ( Milt. ), having the nature of a meteor.— Meteoric iron , iron as found in meteoric stones; Meteoric showers , showers of meteors or shooting-stars; Meteoric Stones , aerolites. [Gr. meteōron — meta , beyond, eōra , anything suspended— aeirein , to lift.]