A bolide is a large METEOR or FIREBALL that explodes in the atmosphere. It is usually visible from the ground and can be heard as a loud noise. The term bolide is derived from the Greek word for 'THUNDERBOLT' and is used to describe a very bright METEOR or FIREBALL that appears in the sky. The crossword solutions for the term bolide are METEOR (6 letters) and FIREBALL (8 letters). A METEOR is a small piece of rock or dust that enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up, while a FIREBALL is a larger METEOR that explodes in the atmosphere.