fireball

[ fahyuhr-bawl ]

noun

1. a ball of fire, as the sun; a shooting star.
2. a luminous meteor, sometimes exploding.
3. lightning having the appearance of a globe of fire; ball lightning.
4. the highly luminous central portion of a nuclear explosion.
5. a ball filled with explosive or combustible material, used as a projectile to injure the enemy by explosion or to set fire to their works.
6. Informal. an exceptionally energetic or ambitious person.

fireball

/ ˈfaɪəˌbɔːl /

noun

1. a ball-shaped discharge of lightning
2. the bright spherical region of hot ionized gas at the centre of a nuclear explosion
3. astronomy another name for bolide
4. slang.
   an energetic person

Word History and Origins

Origin of fireball¹

First recorded in 1545–55; fire + ball ¹

Example Sentences

Other footage captures people rushing to extinguish the flames amid screams and explosions sending fireballs into the night sky.

From BBC

The comet will look like a bright fireball with a long, extended tail, said Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, KABC-TV reported.

From Los Angeles Times

As it crashed into Earth's atmosphere, it would have formed a fireball.

From BBC

Moments later, five fireballs bloom along the deck, engulfing the entire length of the ship in plumes of black smoke.

From Los Angeles Times

“There was a loud explosion recorded by a number of individuals on campus and some individuals reported seeing a fireball,” Carvalho said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aggressive
• alive
• bold
• busy
• determined
• diligent
• dynamic
• eager
• energetic
• engaged
• enthusiastic
• forceful
• intense
• keen
• lively
• quick
• ready
• resolute