Meteorite
(Me"te*or*ite) n. [Cf. F. météorite.] (Min.) A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the
earth from space; an aërolite.
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: 1. Of metallic iron, alloyed with
a small percentage of nickel (meteoric iron, holosiderite). When etched this usually exhibits peculiar
crystalline figures, called Widmanstätten figures. 2. Of a cellular mass of iron with imbedded silicates
3. Of a stony mass of silicates with little iron (meteoric stone, sporadosiderite). 4. Of a mass without
iron
Meteorize
(Me"te*or*ize) v. i. [Gr. to raise to a height.] To ascend in vapors; to take the form of a
meteor. Evelyn.
Meteorograph
(Me`te*or"o*graph) n. [Meteor + -graph.] An instrument which registers meteorologic
phases or conditions.
Meteorographic
(Me`te*or`o*graph"ic) a. Of or pertaining to meteorography.
Meteorography
(Me`te*or*og"ra*phy) n. [Meteor + -graphy.] The registration of meteorological phenomena.
Meteoroid
(Me"te*or*oid) 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.
These bodies [small, solid bodies] before they come into the air, I call meteoroids.
H. A. Newton. Meteoroidal
(Me`te*or*oid"al) a. Of or pertaining to a meteoroid or to meteoroids.
Meteorolite
(Me`te*or"o*lite) n. [Meteor + -lite : cf. F. météorolithe.] A meteoric stone; an aërolite; a meteorite.
Meteorologic
(Me`te*or`o*log"ic Me`te*or`o*log"ic*al) a. [Gr. : cf. F. météorologique.] Of or pertaining to
the atmosphere and its phenomena, or to meteorology.
Meteorological table, Meteorological register, a table or register exhibiting the state of the air and
its temperature, weight, dryness, moisture, motion, etc.
Meteorologist
(Me`te*or*ol"o*gist) n. [Cf. F. météorologiste.] A person skilled in meteorology.
Meteorology
(Me`te*or*ol"o*gy) n. [Gr. + lo`gos discourse: cf. F. météorologie. See Meteor.] The science
which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena, particularly of its variations of heat and moisture, of
its winds, storms, etc.
Meteoromancy
(Me`te*or"o*man`cy) n. [Meteor + -mancy : cf. F. météoromancie.] A species of divination
by meteors, chiefly by thunder and lightning, which was held in high estimation by the Romans.
Meteorometer
(Me`te*or*om"e*ter) n. [Meteor + -meter.] An apparatus which transmits automatically to
a central station atmospheric changes as marked by the anemometer, barometer, thermometer, etc.
Meteoroscope
(Me`te*or"o*scope) n. [Gr. fr. observing the heavenly bodies; + to view: cf. F. météoroscope.
See Meteor.] (Astron.) (a) An astrolabe; a planisphere. [Obs.] (b) An instrument for measuring the
position, length, and direction, of the apparent path of a shooting star.
Meteorous
(Me*te"o*rous) a. [See Meteor.] Of the nature or appearance of a meteor.
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meter
(-me"ter) [L. metrum measure, or the allied Gr. . See Meter rhythm.] A suffix denoting that by
which anything is measured; as, barometer, chronometer, dynamometer.
