meteor
Pronunciation
Noun
A1 Beginner
Quick answer
A piece of rock or dust from space that burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere, seen as a streak of light.
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
shooting star
Usage notes
A meteor is the burst of light itself, a meteorite is what's left of it if the rock survives and lands on Earth.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "We lay on the grass and counted _____ streaking across the sky."
Answer: meteor
In your own words, what does "meteor" mean?
A piece of rock or dust from space that burns up as it enters Earth's atmosphere, seen as a streak of light.
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