shooting star

noun

1. meteor ( def 1b ).
2. Also called American cowslip, any of several North American plants of the genus Dodecatheon, especially D. meadia, having pink or white flowers with reflexed petals and stamens forming a pointed beak.

shooting star

noun

1. an informal name for meteor

Word History and Origins

Origin of shooting star¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

These tiny particles burn up with the friction of the Earth's atmosphere and leave a streak of light through the sky - the meteor, which is sometimes referred to as a shooting star.

From BBC

The Northern lights were seen as far south as Norfolk with a glimpse of a shooting star - the Perseid meteor shower.

From BBC

On the front of the jersey, an upward line through the name “Los Angeles” represents a shooting star.

From Los Angeles Times

But from my seat in the corner of Climate Pledge, I saw more than a shooting star.

From Seattle Times

The dance waned through the weekend, so if you didn’t catch the northern lights this time, you might be stuck with a feeling similar to the regret of not traveling for last month’s total solar eclipse or the despair of just missing the sight of a shooting star.

From Seattle Times