n. [ F. météore, Gr. &unr_;, pl. &unr_; things in the air, fr. &unr_; high in air, raised off the ground; &unr_; beyond + &unr_;, &unr_;, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr. &unr_; to lift, raise up. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
Hail, an ordinary meteor. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]
The vaulty top of heaven
Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth; also to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting stars, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. météorique. ]
Meteoric iron,
Meteoric stone
Meteoric paper,
Meteoric showers,
a. Meteoric. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Med.) Flatulent distention of the abdomen; tympanites. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. météorite. ] (Min.) A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from space; an aerolite. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Meteorites usually show a pitted surface with a fused crust, caused by the heat developed in their rapid passage through the earth's atmosphere. A meteorite may consist:
v. i. [ Gr. &unr_; to raise to a height. ] To ascend in vapors; to take the form of a meteor. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Meteor + -graph. ] An instrument which registers meteorologic phases or conditions. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of or pertaining to meteorography. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Meteor + -graphy. ] The registration of meteorological phenomena. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Meteor + -oid. ] (Astron.) A small body moving through space, or revolving about the sun, which on entering the earth's atmosphere would be deflagrated and appear as a meteor. [ 1913 Webster ]
These bodies [ small, solid bodies ] before they come into the air, I call meteoroids. H. A. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]