Meteorite
/ˈmiː.ti.ə.raɪt/noun
A rock or metallic fragment from space that survives passage through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the surface.
Did you know?The ancient Greek word meteōra referred broadly to things ‘high in the air,’ including atmospheric lights, comets, and celestial phenomena—not specifically space rocks.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂wer-
“To raise or lift upward; the proposed ancient root behind Greek words for elevation and suspension.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
meteōros
“Raised high, lofty, or suspended in the air; formed from meta, ‘beyond’ or ‘above,’ and a root meaning ‘raise.’”
Ancient Greek
Greek
meteōra
“Things in the atmosphere or heavens; the subject of Aristotle’s Meteorologica included weather, comets, and heavenly phenomena.”
Late Latin
Latin
meteorum
“An atmospheric or celestial phenomenon, borrowed from Greek meteoron.”
17th Century
English
meteor
“A visible phenomenon in the atmosphere, later especially a streak of light caused by a space particle burning in air.”
19th Century
English
meteorite
“A meteor-derived term formed with -ite, used for a fragment of extraterrestrial material that reaches Earth’s ground.”