bolide

See also: Bolide

English

An especially bright meteor, a bolide (in astronomy)

Etymology

Borrowed from French bolide, from Latin bolis, from Ancient Greek βολίς (bolís, missile, arrow, javelin). Doublet of bolis.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈboʊ.laɪd/, /ˈboʊ.lɪd/
    • (file)

Noun

bolide (plural bolides)

  1. An extremely bright meteor.
    Synonym: fireball
  2. Any extraterrestrial body that collides with Earth.
    • 2004, Alan Harris, “SPACEGUARD REDUX, PUT TO TEST”, in Astrobiology Magazine:
      The smallest impactor that can penetrate the atmosphere deep enough to cause any damage on the ground is not much smaller than the "Tunguska" bolide that flattened a couple thousand square miles of Siberian forest in 1908.
  3. A fireball.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Further reading

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

From French bolide.

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Noun

bolide f (plural bolides, diminutive bolidetje n)

  1. (astronomy) bolide; an exceptionally bright meteor
    Synonym: vuurbol
  2. (by extension) fast racing car; speedster, high-powered car

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin bolis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bɔ.lid/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -id

Noun

bolide m (plural bolides)

  1. (astronomy, dated) fireball
  2. (by extension) fast racing car; speedster, high-powered car

Further reading

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin bolidem, from Ancient Greek βολίς (bolís, missile, arrow, javelin).

Noun

bolide m (plural bolidi)

  1. (astronomy) meteor
  2. (automotive) racing car/race car

Anagrams

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