Here's a breakdown of the terms:

* Meteoroid: A small rocky or metallic body in space.

* Meteor: The bright streak of light seen when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up. This is what people often refer to as a "shooting star."

* Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and reaches the Earth's surface.

So, if a stone is entering the atmosphere, it's still a meteoroid. But if it burns brightly and creates a streak of light, it's a meteor. And if it actually lands on Earth, it's a meteorite.