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

Videos taken when the explosion occurred around 9:30 p.m. showed a massive fireball erupt amid a loud, extended roar.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple were left badly burnt after fleeing for their lives when their fireplace exploded, engulfing their home in an "orange fireball".

From BBC

The heat ruptured a gas pipeline from another installation, producing a fireball that engulfed Piper Alpha.

From BBC

On Jan. 7 , Sydney and I, along with three women and four dogs from the neighborhood, found ourselves frantically driving south to Pasadena’s iconic, grand hotel — the Langham Huntington — to escape the fast-moving fireball.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents in Georgia and nearby states reported hundreds of sightings and a loud booming noise when the fireball tore through the skies.

From BBC

Related Words

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