me·te·or·ite (m  t- -r t )n. A stony or metallic mass of matter that has fallen to the earth's surface from outer space. me te·or·itic (--r tk), mete·or·iti·cal adj. |
meteorite [ˈmiːtɪəˌraɪt]
n
(Earth Sciences / Geological Science) a rocklike object consisting of the remains of a meteoroid that has fallen on earth. It may be stony (see chondrite), iron, or stony iron (see pallasite)
meteoritic [ˌmiːtɪəˈrɪtɪk] adj
| meteorite (mt--rt) A meteor that reaches the Earth's surface because it has not been burned up by friction with the atmosphere. Meteorites are believed to be fragments of comets and asteroids.  Meteorites that consist mostly of silicates are called stony meteorites and are classified as either chondrites or achondrites. Meteorites that consist mostly of iron are called iron meteorites. Meteorites that consist of a mixture of silicates and iron are called stony-iron meteorites. |
meteorite - A meteor that survives and makes it to a planet; types of meteorites include siderites/irons, aerolites/stones, and siderolites (iron/stone).
See also related terms for meteor.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  meteorite - stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surfaceaerolite - a stony meteorite consisting of silicate minerals meteor, meteoroid - (astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere micrometeor, micrometeorite, micrometeoroid - a meteorite or meteoroid so small that it drifts down to earth without becoming intensely heated in the atmosphere pallasite - a meteorite composed principally of olivine and metallic iron siderite - a meteorite consisting principally of nickel and iron |
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