MICROMETEORITE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does micrometeorite mean? 

• MICROMETEORITE (noun)
  The noun MICROMETEORITE has 1 sense:

1. a meteorite or meteoroid so small that it drifts down to earth without becoming intensely heated in the atmosphere

  Familiarity information: MICROMETEORITE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MICROMETEORITE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A meteorite or meteoroid so small that it drifts down to earth without becoming intensely heated in the atmosphere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

micrometeor; micrometeorite; micrometeoroid

Hypernyms ("micrometeorite" is a kind of...):

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

Derivation:

micrometeoritic (of or relating to micrometeorites)

 Context examples 

Alternatively, perhaps when fine dust particles get lofted by micrometeorite impacts, an existing magnetic field over the swirls sorts them according to their susceptibility to magnetism, forming light and dark patterns with different compositions.

(NASA Research Gives New Insights into How the Moon Got 'Inked', NASA)