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.

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.