An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A class of → stony meteorites that lack → chondrules. They are made of rock that has crystallized from a molten state. Achondrites are relatively rare, accounting for about 8% of all meteorite falls.

See also: Achondrite, from Gk. prefix a- (an- before stems beginning with a vowel or h) “not, without, lacking” + Gk. chondrite, from chondr-, from chondros “grain,”

• affix -ite.