bolide

[ boh-lahyd, -lid ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a large, brilliant meteor, especially one that explodes; fireball.

bolide

/ -lɪd; ˈbəʊlaɪd /

noun

1. a large exceptionally bright meteor that often explodes Also calledfireball

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolide¹

First recorded in 1850–55; from French, from Greek bolid- (stem of bolís ) “missile”

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolide¹

C19: from French, from bolis missile; see ballista

Example Sentences

Astrophysicists say it was a bolide, or a meteor that explodes in the air.

From The Daily Beast

It said blandly that a bolide—a slow-moving, large meteoric object—had been observed by radar to be descending to earth.

From Project Gutenberg

A bolide had fallen into the Catanian sea—he took me to the port and showed me precisely where.

From Project Gutenberg

They stopped arguing about last night's bolide to take ringside seats.

From Project Gutenberg

The argument on the path of last night's bolide and why it fell where it did is again in order.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the sound of the bolide's passage, arriving after the object itself had dived into the sea.

From Project Gutenberg