bolide
/'boulaid/
Definition
- Noun:
- An especially luminous meteor (sometimes exploding): A "bolide" is a type of meteor that is exceptionally bright, often appearing as a fireball in the sky. It is sometimes characterized by an explosion, which may produce audible sounds or fragmentation.
Usage
- The term "bolide" is used in astronomy to describe a specific, dramatic class of meteors. It is a more technical term than "shooting star" or "fireball," often implying greater brightness and potential for fragmentation or sonic effects.
- It is typically used in scientific, journalistic, or descriptive contexts when discussing notable meteor events.
Examples
- Noun:
- The night sky was lit up by a brilliant bolide that fragmented with several loud booms.
- Astronomers classified the event as a bolide due to its extreme luminosity and the resulting meteorite fragments found on the ground.
Advanced Usage
- In Planetary Science: The term can also be used to describe a large impactor, such as an asteroid or comet, that creates a similar bright flash upon entering a planet's atmosphere.
- The bolide that struck Jupiter in 1994 was observed by telescopes worldwide.
Variants and Related Words
- Fireball (n): A common synonym for a very bright meteor. While often used interchangeably with "bolide," "fireball" is a less technical term.
- Meteor (n): The general term for the streak of light caused by a meteoroid entering the atmosphere. A bolide is a specific, very bright type of meteor.
- Meteoroid (n): The solid object (a small asteroid or particle) in space before it enters the atmosphere.
- Meteorite (n): The fragment of a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface.
Synonyms
- Fireball: A bright meteor.
- Superbolide: An exceptionally intense bolide.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- Bolide event: A term used to describe the occurrence of a bolide, often in scientific reports.
- The local news reported on the spectacular bolide event witnessed over the state.
Noun
-
an especially luminous meteor (sometimes exploding)
