Definition of "micrometeorite" [micrometeorite]

• A tiny particle of meteoric dust, especially one of many that fall to the surface of the earth or moon. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The shuttle astronauts will use the laser- and camera-tipped boom one last time late Wednesday night to check for any signs of micrometeorite damage to Endeavour's heat shield."
• "There are a variety of scales available in "visible" light imaging, from 0.5 meter scale to 100-meter scale; the highest scale imagers will re-image Apollo landing sites to look at micrometeorite-induced changes."
• "The space station's newly attached boom was used by shuttle Endeavour's astronauts Thursday to survey their ship for micrometeorite damage."