From Greek 'meteoron' (thing raised in the air) — Aristotle grouped shooting stars with rain and wind, hence 'meteorology.'
A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere, appearing as a streak of light due to friction-generated incandescence.
From Greek 'metéōron' (μετέωρον), meaning 'thing raised up' or 'thing in the air,' from 'metéōros' (μετέωρος, raised up, lofty, suspended), composed of 'metá' (beyond, among) + 'aéirein' (to raise, lift), from PIE *h₂wer- (to raise). Aristotle used 'ta metéōra' to describe all atmospheric phenomena — rain, wind, lightning, shooting stars — which is why the study of weather is called 'meteorology,' a word that originally encompassed everything 'up in the air.' Key roots: metá (Greek: "beyond, among
The reason weather forecasters are called 'meteorologists' is that Aristotle classified shooting stars, rain, hail, wind, and lightning all under one heading: 'ta metéōra' (things up in the air). When the science of weather split off from astronomy, it kept the old umbrella term — leaving us with weather scientists named after 'things raised up in the sky.'