Do meteorites really land on Earth, or did the interviewee mean that ironically? [closed]

Solution 1:

The verb land is a verbification of the noun land. So there is not really any "smoothness" inherent to the word. Sure, a meteorite crashes, collides, impacts, destroys, ploughs into, wrecks land, but in every case, the space rock makes contact with the land. It "lands."

On a side note, a plane can land violently, but a meteorite simply 'lands,' unless you personify its action with, say, the wraths of the gods. :)

Solution 2:

A Google Books search shows “hit” as a more common verb used in relation to meteorites reaching the Earth.

Land is also used, probably on the following connotation:

to hit or strike the ground, as from a height:

• The ball landed at the far side of the court.

(Dictionary.com)

From Perspectives on Astronomy :

Meteorites hit Earth every day, and occasionally a large one can form a crater.