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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Meteor \Me"te*or\, n. [F. m['e]t['e]ore, Gr. ?, pl. ? things in
the air, fr. ? high in air, raised off the ground; ? beyond
?, ?, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr. ? to lift,
raise up.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds,
rain, hail, snow, etc.
[1913 Webster]

Hail, an ordinary meteor. --Bp. Hall.
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2. Specif.: A transient luminous body or appearance seen in
the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region.
[1913 Webster]

The vaulty top of heaven
Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

3. A mass of stone or other substance which sometimes falls
to the earth from space beyond the moon, burning up from
atomospheric friction and creating a brilliant but usually
very brief trail of light in the atmosphere; also called a
{shooting star}.
[PJC]

Note: The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the
masses of stone or other substances which sometimes
fall to the earth; also to shooting stars and to ignes
fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial meteors,
winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail,
snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos,
etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting stars,
and the like.
[1913 Webster]