From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Fireball \Fire"ball`\, n.
1. (Mil.) A ball filled with powder or other combustibles,
intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by
explosion; also, to set fire to their works and light them
up, so that movements may be seen.
[1913 Webster]
2. A rare phenomenon often associated with or caused by
lightning, resembling a luminous ball of fire passing
rapidly through the air or along solid objects, then
disappearing, and sometimes exploding. It seldom lasts
more than a few seconds. Also called {ball lightning},
{globe lightning}, {globular lightning}, or {kugelblitz}.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
3. A large mass of fire caused by a large explosion, as of
inflammable liquids or a nuclear device. The larger
fireballs, as of nuclear explosions, rise seemingly intact
into the air and may reach high altitudes while still
glowing.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fireball
n 1: an especially luminous meteor (sometimes exploding) [syn:
{bolide}, {fireball}]
2: a highly energetic and indefatigable person [syn:
{powerhouse}, {human dynamo}, {ball of fire}, {fireball}]
3: a ball of fire (such as the sun or a ball-shaped discharge of
lightning)
4: the luminous center of a nuclear explosion
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