meteorite etymology

Etymology

"Meteorite" comes from the Greek words "meteōron" (μετέωρον), meaning "high in the air, sublime," and "-ite" (-ίτης), a suffix indicating a mineral or rock.

Meaning

A meteorite is a fragment of a rocky or metallic object that has fallen to Earth from space. It is a natural object that has not been significantly altered by human activity.

Origin

Meteorites originate from various sources, including:

• Asteroids: Fragments of asteroids that break off and enter Earth's atmosphere.
• Comets: Icy bodies that contain dust and rock fragments, which can break up and fall to Earth as meteorites.
• Mars: Some meteorites are believed to have originated from the planet Mars and were ejected by impacts or volcanic eruptions.
• Moon: Rare meteorites are thought to have come from the Moon and were ejected by impacts.
• Other planets: While unlikely, meteorites from other planets like Venus or Jupiter have been theorized.

Additional Information

• Meteoroids are objects in space that range in size from small dust particles to large boulders.
• When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it is heated by friction and glows, producing a phenomenon known as a meteor or "shooting star."
• If the meteoroid does not completely vaporize and reaches the ground, it is classified as a meteorite.
• Meteorites can provide valuable scientific information about the composition, age, and history of the solar system and beyond.

meteorite relate terms

• meteor

  Etymology The word meteor is derived from the Ancient Greek word μετέωρος mete

• meta

  Etymology The word meta is derived from the Ancient Greek prefix μετα meta

• meteoroid

• meteorite

  Etymology Meteorite comes from the Greek words meteōron μετέωρον meaning

• remote

  Etymology The word remote comes from the Latin remotus meaning far away Meaning

• pomp

  Etymology Latin pompa meaning procession parade Meaning A grand elaborate o

• concept

  Concept Etymology From Latin conceptus meaning something conceived Derived from

• presume

  Etymology Latin praesumere praesumere pre before sumere to take Meaning To

• tabernacle

  Etymology The word tabernacle comes from the Latin word tabernaculum which means t

• sphere

  Etymology The word sphere comes from the Latin word sphaera which in turn comes from

• shenanigan

  Etymology The word shenanigan is believed to have originated from the Irish phrase si

• court

  Etymology The word court originates from the Old French word cort which in turn deri

• courage

  Etymology French courage Latin cor heart Proto Indo European ḱr̥d heart

• prerogative

  Etymology Middle French prerogative from Latin praerogātīvus from praerogāre t