METEORITE

meteorite

(noun) stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth’s surface

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

meteorite (plural meteorites)

A metallic or stony object or body that is the remains of a meteoroid.

Hyponyms

• See also meteorite

Source: Wiktionary

Me"te*or*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. météorite.] (Min.)

Definition: A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from space; an aërolite.

Note: 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 (mesosiderite or siderolite). 3. Of a stony mass of silicates with little iron (meteoric stone, sporadosiderite). 4. Of a mass without iron (asiderite).

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition