Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stony meteorite: A type of meteorite that is composed primarily of silicate minerals, similar to rocks found on Earth, as opposed to those containing significant metal (iron-nickel).

Usage

• Noun:
  • The museum's collection includes a rare aerolite that fell in the 19th century.
  • Scientists analyzed the composition of the aerolite to learn about the early solar system.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Classification: In astronomy and geology, "aerolite" is a specific term used to classify meteorites based on their composition, distinguishing them from siderites (metallic meteorites) and siderolites (stony-iron meteorites).
  • The recovered fragment was classified as an aerolite due to its high silicate content.

Variants and Related Words

• Aerolith (n): A less common synonym for aerolite.
  • The term "aerolith" is sometimes used interchangeably with aerolite.
• Meteorite (n): The general term for a solid piece of debris from an object that has survived its passage through the atmosphere to reach a planetary surface. An aerolite is a type of meteorite.
  • Not all meteorites are aerolites; some are primarily metallic.

Synonyms

• Stony meteorite: The direct descriptive synonym.
• Chondrite (n): A specific, common type of stony meteorite that contains chondrules (small, round granules). Most aerolites are chondrites.
  • The aerolite was further identified as an ordinary chondrite.

Related Phrases

• Aerolite fall: The event of an aerolite hitting the Earth's surface.
  • The aerolite fall was witnessed by hundreds of people.
• Aerolite specimen: A sample or example of an aerolite.
  • The laboratory acquired a new aerolite specimen for study.

Noun

1. a stony meteorite consisting of silicate minerals