Mē'te-or, n.

n. [Fr. météore, Sp. meteoro, It. meteora, Gr. μετέωρον, pl. μετέωρα, things in the air, from μετέωρος, high in air, raised from off the ground, from μετά, beyond, and ἐώρᾰ, αἰώρα, a being suspended or hovering in the air, from αἰρεῖν, to lift, raise up, from ἀήρ, the air.]

1Sense 1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, &c.

2Sense 2. Specifically, a transient fiery or luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region. “And, meteor-like, flame lawless through the sky.” Pope.

The term is especially applied to fire-balls, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall from them to the earth, and to shooting stars, also to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed, as, aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, &c.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, &c.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, &c.; and igneous meteors, auroras, lightning, shooting stars, and the like.