meteor

Noun
  1. (astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere (synset 109376006)
    referred to in: astronomy, uranology - the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
    is a type of: estraterrestrial body, extraterrestrial object - a natural object existing outside the earth and outside the earth's atmosphere
    subtypes:
    • meteorite - stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface
    • meteor swarm - a group of meteoroids with similar paths
    same as: meteoroid
  2. A streak of light in the sky at night that results when a meteoroid hits the earth's atmosphere and air friction causes the meteoroid to melt or vaporize or explode (synset 111504390)
    is a type of: light, visible light, visible radiation - (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
    subtypes: bolide, fireball - an especially luminous meteor (sometimes exploding)
    is a part of: meteor shower, meteor stream - a transient shower of meteors when a meteor swarm enters the earth's atmosphere
    same as: shooting star

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