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fireball
fireball A meteor whose apparent magnitude exceeds that of the planet Venus (magnitude −5 or brighter). Fireballs are comparatively rare, perhaps fewer than one per thousand meteors. During major annual meteor showers such as the Perseids or Geminids considerable numbers of fireballs may be seen. Fireballs are also associated with the atmospheric entry of large incoming bodies, which may result in meteorite falls. A fragmenting fireball with audible sound is termed a bolide.
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"fireball." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-fireball.html "fireball." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-fireball.html |
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fireball
fireball very bright meteor leaving a trail in the sky that can remain visible for several minutes; often a distinct sound, perhaps caused by very low frequency radio waves, is associated with it. A bolide is a fireball that explodes in the air because of thermal stresses created when it passes through the earth's atmosphere. |
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"fireball." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-fireball.html "fireball." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-fireball.html |
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fireball
fire·ball / ˈfīrˌbôl/ • n. a ball of flame or fire. ∎ an extremely hot, luminous ball of gas generated by a nuclear explosion. ∎ a large bright meteor. ∎ fig. a person with a fiery temper or a great deal of energy. |
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"fireball." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fireball.html "fireball." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-fireball.html |
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fireball
fireball (bollide) Exceptionally bright meteor. Fireballs have been loosely defined as meteors brighter than the planets; with the modern estimate of the maximum brightness of Venus, this would mean that all meteors brighter than magnitude −4.7 should be classified as fireballs.
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"fireball." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-fireball.html "fireball." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-fireball.html |
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fireball
fireball n. a ball of flame or fire.
2. an extremely hot, luminous ball of gas generated by a nuclear explosion. 3. a ball filled with combustibles or explosives, fired at an enemy or enemy fortifications. |
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"fireball." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-fireball.html "fireball." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-fireball.html |
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fireball
fireball
•all, appal (US appall), awl, Bacall, ball, bawl, befall, Bengal, brawl, call, caul, crawl, Donegal, drawl, drywall, enthral (US enthrall), fall, forestall, gall, Galle, Gaul, hall, haul, maul, miaul, miscall, Montreal, Naipaul, Nepal, orle, pall, Paul, pawl, Saul, schorl, scrawl, seawall, Senegal, shawl, small, sprawl, squall, stall, stonewall, tall, thrall, trawl, wall, waul, wherewithal, withal, yawl
•carryall • blackball • handball
•patball • hardball • netball • baseball
•paintball • speedball • heelball
•meatball • stickball • pinball • spitball
•racquetball • basketball • volleyball
•eyeball, highball
•oddball • softball • mothball
•korfball • cornball
•lowball, no-ball, snowball
•goalball
•cueball, screwball
•goofball • stoolball • football
•puffball • punchball • fireball
•rollerball • cannonball • butterball
•catchall • bradawl • holdall • Goodall
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"fireball." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "fireball." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fireball.html "fireball." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-fireball.html |
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