# NEA

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nea
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

Stands for Near Earth Asteroid. A rock from space that travels close to Earth's orbit. Scientists track these to see if they might hit our planet in the future.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Near Earth Asteroid. A small rocky body whose orbit brings it within 1.3 astronomical units of the Sun, and thus within 0.05 astronomical units of Earth's orbit.

## Examples

- Astronomers discovered a new NEA last night.
- The NEA monitoring program tracks thousands of objects to predict any potential collisions with Earth over the next century.
- While most NEAs are harmless, their proximity to our planet's orbit necessitates constant observation to identify any trajectory that might pose a significant threat to global security.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.