a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
brilliancynoun
a quality that outshines the usual
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
collisionsnounUS /kəˈlɪʒənz/
plural of “collision” — (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
cometaryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːməteri/
of or relating to or resembling a comet
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
cometsnounUS /ˈkɑːməts/
plural of “comet” — (astronomy) a relatively small extraterrestrial body consisting of a frozen mass that travels around the sun in a highly elliptical orbit
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
decreasesnounUS /dɪˈkriːsəz/
plural of “decrease” — a change downward
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
dischargesnounUS /dɪsˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “discharge” — the sudden giving off of energy
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/
possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
electricaladjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪkəl/
relating to or concerned with electricity
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
entrappedverbUS /ɪnˈtræpt/
inflected form of “entrap” — take or catch as if in a snare or trap
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
erraticadjectiveUS /ɪˈrætɪk/
liable to sudden unpredictable change
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
fragmentsnounUS /ˈfræɡmənts/
plural of “fragment” — a piece broken off or cut off of something else
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
increasesnounUS /ɪnˈkriːsəz/
plural of “increase” — a quantity that is added
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
luminositynoun
the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
meteoricadjectiveUS /ˌmiːtiˈɔːrɪk/
of or pertaining to atmospheric phenomena, especially weather and weather conditions
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
meteorsnounUS /ˈmiːtiərz/
plural of “meteor” — (astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
Numberlessadjective
too numerous to be counted
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
and nothing more
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
orbitsnounUS /ˈɔːrbəts/
plural of “orbit” — the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
particlesnounUS /ˈpɑːrtəkəlz/
plural of “particle” — (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
by chance
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
bring forth or yield
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
showersnounUS /ˈʃaʊərz/
plural of “shower” — a plumbing fixture that sprays water over you
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
swarmsnounUS /swɔːrmz/
plural of “swarm” — a moving crowd
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Numberless small meteoric particles are entrapped by the earth's atmosphere every day.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The causes of these sudden changes in luminosity are unknown; possibly electrical discharges or chance collisions between fragments of considerable size may account for some of them.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They are referred to as "shooting" stars or "falling" stars though, of course, they are not in any sense stars.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
not known
From this reading The luminosity of comets is due not only to reflected sunlight, but to certain unknown causes that produce sudden and erratic increases or decreases of brilliancy.
well-definedadjective
having a clean and distinct outline as if precisely cut along the edges
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
at the time that
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It is only when these meteoric particles travel in well-defined cometary orbits and appear at certain definite times every year that they are referred to as swarms or showers of meteors.
