meteor

Everyday

1. A streak of light in the night sky made when a small piece of rock or dust from space burns up in the air; a shooting star. tree →
2. The piece of space rock itself as it falls through the air. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about space: a meteoroid is the rock in space, a meteor is the bright streak as it burns, and a meteorite is a piece that lands on the ground. A «meteor shower» is many meteors at once. Phrases: meteor shower, shooting star, a meteor shot across the sky.

Examples

• We saw a meteor flash across the sky. tree →
• A meteor is also called a shooting star. tree →
• Most meteors burn up before they hit the ground. tree →
• We stayed up late to watch the meteor shower. tree →
• A meteor that reaches the ground is called a meteorite. tree →
• Make a wish when you see a meteor! tree →
• Scientists study meteors to learn about space. tree →
• The meteor left a glowing trail. tree →
• A shooting star lit up the sky, and the boy's thoughts passed in a second from the vapours of the earth up to the shining meteor. tree →

Note

Countable: meteors. Myth: a shooting star is not a star at all — it is a tiny rock burning up. Related: meteorite, meteoroid. Trap: «meteorology» is about weather, not meteors.