ScienceAugust 10, 2026
fireball
FY-er-bawl
Definition
A large, bright, and spherical mass of fire created by an explosion or intense combustion.
Etymology
The word is a compound formation from the Old English 'fȳr' (fire) and 'beall' (ball), first appearing in Middle English to describe luminous atmospheric phenomena or cannon fire.
In the news
The word describes the intense, flaming explosion that occurred after the rocket experienced a malfunction during its flight. It highlights the destructive nature of the failed launch.
Chinese rocket explodes less than 90 seconds after liftoff (photos)
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