2 definitions
for Meteorite
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Meteorite \Me"te*or*ite\, n. [Cf. F. m['e]t['e]orite.] (Min.)
A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from
space; an aerolite.
[1913 Webster]
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 Widmanst[aum]tten 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).
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 :
meteorite
n : stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid
that has reached the earth's surface
