mesosphere

noun

me·​so·​sphere ˈme-zə-ˌsfir 

ˈmē-,

-sə-

: the part of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases with altitude to the atmosphere's absolute minimum

mesospheric

ˌme-zə-ˈsfir-ik 

ˌmē-

-sə-

-ˈsfer-

adjective

Examples of mesosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The system was then instructed to reconstruct what may be happening within the mesosphere to fill in the blanks. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 21 Jan. 2025

Things burn up in the mesosphere because of the energy produced through friction between the object falling through the mesosphere and the molecules in the mesosphere. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025

So as to keep from soaring clean into the mesosphere at the first gust of a wind, the Canopy anchors to the vehicle via a series of elastic bands and suction cups and also stakes down to the ground. —New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2024

Falling spacecraft gradually ablate — the technical term for burning up — about 40 miles above the ground, in the mesosphere, which sits above the stratosphere. —Ramin Skibba, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

meso- + -sphere

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mesosphere

noun

me·​so·​sphere ˈmez-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

ˈmēz-,

ˈmēs-,

ˈmes-

: a layer of the atmosphere extending from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about 50 miles (80 kilometers)