TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
NUCLEAR FIREBALL [9 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2024-01-03
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Fires and Explosions
- Atomic Physics
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- shallow subsurface nuclear burst
1, record 1, English, shallow%20subsurface%20nuclear%20burst
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- shallow subsurface burst 1, record 1, English, shallow%20subsurface%20burst
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A subsurface nuclear burst where the fireball breaks the earth's surface and consequently produces fallout. 1, record 1, English, - shallow%20subsurface%20nuclear%20burst
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
shallow subsurface nuclear burst; shallow subsurface burst: designations and definition standardized by NATO. 2, record 1, English, - shallow%20subsurface%20nuclear%20burst
Record 1, Key term(s)
- shallow sub-surface nuclear burst
- shallow sub-surface burst
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Feux et explosions
- Physique atomique
- Armes CBRNE
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- explosion nucléaire souterraine peu profonde
1, record 1, French, explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20souterraine%20peu%20profonde
correct, feminine noun, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosion nucléaire souterraine dont la boule de feu rompt la surface terrestre et s'accompagne de retombées radioactives. 1, record 1, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20souterraine%20peu%20profonde
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
explosion nucléaire souterraine peu profonde : désignation et définition normalisées par l'OTAN. 2, record 1, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20souterraine%20peu%20profonde
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2024-01-03
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Fires and Explosions
- Atomic Physics
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- surface nuclear burst
1, record 2, English, surface%20nuclear%20burst
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- surface burst 1, record 2, English, surface%20burst
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A nuclear burst that occurs within the atmosphere at a height such that the fireball is in contact with the earth's surface and consequently produces fallout. 1, record 2, English, - surface%20nuclear%20burst
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
surface nuclear burst; surface burst: designations and definition standardized by NATO. 2, record 2, English, - surface%20nuclear%20burst
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Feux et explosions
- Physique atomique
- Armes CBRNE
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- explosion nucléaire de surface
1, record 2, French, explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
correct, feminine noun, NATO, standardized
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosion nucléaire qui se produit dans l'atmosphère à une hauteur telle que la boule de feu entre en contact avec la surface terrestre et, par conséquent, entraîne des retombées radioactives. 1, record 2, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
explosion nucléaire de surface : désignation et définition normalisées par l'OTAN. 2, record 2, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2020-07-29
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- Atmospheric Physics
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- afterwind
1, record 3, English, afterwind
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Wind current set up in the vicinity of a nuclear explosion directed toward the burst centre, resulting from the updraft accompanying the rise of the fireball. 2, record 3, English, - afterwind
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
afterwind: term usually used in the plural. 3, record 3, English, - afterwind
Record 3, Key term(s)
- afterwinds
- after-wind
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Physique de l'atmosphère
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- vent secondaire
1, record 3, French, vent%20secondaire
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Courant causé par le vent à proximité d'une explosion nucléaire, en direction du centre de l'explosion, à la suite du courant ascendant qui accompagne la montée de la boule de feu. 2, record 3, French, - vent%20secondaire
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física atómica
- Física de la atmósfera
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- viento secundario
1, record 3, Spanish, viento%20secundario
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2020-02-22
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- nuclear cloud
1, record 4, English, nuclear%20cloud
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A cloud of hot gases, smoke, dust and other particulate matter from a nuclear weapon and its environment, that is carried aloft in conjunction with the rise of the fireball produced by the detonation of that weapon. 2, record 4, English, - nuclear%20cloud
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
nuclear cloud: designation and definition standardized by NATO. 3, record 4, English, - nuclear%20cloud
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Armes CBRNE
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- nuage nucléaire
1, record 4, French, nuage%20nucl%C3%A9aire
correct, masculine noun, NATO, standardized, officially approved
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nuage de gaz chauds, de fumée, de poussières et d'autres particules provenant d'une arme nucléaire et de son environnement et qui est entraîné par la montée de la boule de feu produite par l'explosion de cette arme. 2, record 4, French, - nuage%20nucl%C3%A9aire
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
nuage nucléaire : désignation et définition normalisées par l'OTAN. 3, record 4, French, - nuage%20nucl%C3%A9aire
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
nuage nucléaire : désignation uniformisée par le Comité de terminologie française du Conseil de doctrine et de tactique de l'Armée de terre. 3, record 4, French, - nuage%20nucl%C3%A9aire
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física atómica
- Armas QBRNE
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- nube nuclear
1, record 4, Spanish, nube%20nuclear
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[Nube] de gases calientes, humo, polvo y otras partículas que proceden de la propia bomba nuclear y de su entorno, que ascienden junto con la bola de fuego producida por la explosión de un arma nuclear. 1, record 4, Spanish, - nube%20nuclear
Record 5 - internal organization data 2019-09-10
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Fires and Explosions
- Atomic Physics
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- nuclear airburst
1, record 5, English, nuclear%20airburst
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
- nuclear air burst 2, record 5, English, nuclear%20air%20burst
correct
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A nuclear burst that occurs within the atmosphere at a height greater than the maximum radius of the fireball and consequently does not produce fallout. 3, record 5, English, - nuclear%20airburst
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
nuclear airburst: designation and definition standardized by NATO. 4, record 5, English, - nuclear%20airburst
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Feux et explosions
- Physique atomique
- Armes CBRNE
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- explosion nucléaire aérienne
1, record 5, French, explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20a%C3%A9rienne
correct, feminine noun, NATO, standardized, officially approved
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosion nucléaire qui se produit dans l'atmosphère à une hauteur supérieure au rayon maximum de la boule de feu et, par conséquent, n'entraîne pas de retombées radioactives. 2, record 5, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20a%C3%A9rienne
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
explosion nucléaire aérienne : désignation et définition normalisées par l'OTAN; désignation uniformisée par le Comité de terminologie française du Conseil de doctrine et de tactique de l'Armée de terre. 3, record 5, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20a%C3%A9rienne
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Fuegos y explosiones
- Física atómica
- Armas QBRNE
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- explosión nuclear en el aire
1, record 5, Spanish, explosi%C3%B3n%20nuclear%20en%20el%20aire
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosión nuclear en el aire, a una altura mayor que el radio máximo de la bola de fuego. 1, record 5, Spanish, - explosi%C3%B3n%20nuclear%20en%20el%20aire
Record 6 - internal organization data 2015-04-24
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- breakaway
1, record 6, English, breakaway
correct, noun, NATO
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The onset of a condition in which the shock front moves away from the exterior of the expanding fireball produced by the explosion of a nuclear weapon. 1, record 6, English, - breakaway
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
breakaway: term and definition standardized by NATO in the AAP-6 standard published in 1998, but not included in the 2014 version. 2, record 6, English, - breakaway
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Armes CBRNE
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- séparation de l'onde de choc
1, record 6, French, s%C3%A9paration%20de%20l%27onde%20de%20choc
correct, feminine noun, NATO
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Début du processus au cours duquel l'onde de choc dépasse l'enveloppe de la boule de feu en expansion produite par une explosion nucléaire. 1, record 6, French, - s%C3%A9paration%20de%20l%27onde%20de%20choc
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
séparation de l'onde de choc : terme et définition normalisés par l'OTAN dans la norme AAP-6 de 1998, mais non repris dans l'édition de 2014. 2, record 6, French, - s%C3%A9paration%20de%20l%27onde%20de%20choc
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Armas QBRNE
Record 6, Main entry term, Spanish
- dislocación de la onda de choque
1, record 6, Spanish, dislocaci%C3%B3n%20de%20la%20onda%20de%20choque
feminine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 6, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Comienzo del proceso en el que el frente de la onda de choque se separa del exterior de la bola de fuego producida por la explosión de un arma nuclear. 1, record 6, Spanish, - dislocaci%C3%B3n%20de%20la%20onda%20de%20choque
Record 7 - internal organization data 2015-03-03
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Atomic Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- CBRNE Weapons
- CBRNE Operations
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- initial nuclear radiation
1, record 7, English, initial%20nuclear%20radiation
correct
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
- initial radiation 2, record 7, English, initial%20radiation
correct
- immediate radiation 1, record 7, English, immediate%20radiation
correct
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The radiation consisting essentially of neutrons and gamma rays, emitted from the fireball within one minute after the nuclear burst. 1, record 7, English, - initial%20nuclear%20radiation
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Physique atomique
- Physique nucléaire
- Armes CBRNE
- Opérations CBRNE
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- rayonnement nucléaire initial
1, record 7, French, rayonnement%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20initial
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
- rayonnement initial 2, record 7, French, rayonnement%20initial
correct, masculine noun, officially approved
- rayonnement immédiat 1, record 7, French, rayonnement%20imm%C3%A9diat
correct, masculine noun
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Rayonnement formé essentiellement de neutrons et de rayons gamma, émis par la boule de feu pendant la minute qui suit une explosion nucléaire. 1, record 7, French, - rayonnement%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20initial
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 OBS
rayonnement initial : terme uniformisé par le Comité de terminologie française du Conseil de doctrine et de tactique de l'Armée de terre. 3, record 7, French, - rayonnement%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20initial
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física atómica
- Física nuclear
- Armas QBRNE
- Operaciones QBRNE
Record 7, Main entry term, Spanish
- radiación inicial
1, record 7, Spanish, radiaci%C3%B3n%20inicial
correct, feminine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 7, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Radiación, fundamentalmente de neutrones y rayos gamma, resultante de una explosión nuclear y emitida desde la bola de fuego en el primer minuto después de la explosión. 1, record 7, Spanish, - radiaci%C3%B3n%20inicial
Record 8 - internal organization data 2002-03-07
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- CBRNE Weapons
- CBRNE Operations
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- nuclear surface burst
1, record 8, English, nuclear%20surface%20burst
correct, NATO, standardized, officially approved
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
Record 8, Textual support, English
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An explosion of a nuclear weapon at the surface of land or water; or above the surface, at a height less than the maximum radius of the fireball. 2, record 8, English, - nuclear%20surface%20burst
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 OBS
nuclear surface burst: term and definition standardized by NATO. 3, record 8, English, - nuclear%20surface%20burst
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Armes CBRNE
- Opérations CBRNE
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- explosion nucléaire de surface
1, record 8, French, explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
correct, feminine noun, standardized, officially approved
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosion d'une arme nucléaire à la surface de la terre ou de l'eau, ou à une hauteur telle que la boule de feu touche la surface. 2, record 8, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 OBS
explosion nucléaire de surface : terme et définition normalisés par l'OTAN et uniformisés par le Comité de terminologie française du Conseil de doctrine et de tactique de l'Armée de terre. 3, record 8, French, - explosion%20nucl%C3%A9aire%20de%20surface
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Armas QBRNE
- Operaciones QBRNE
Record 8, Main entry term, Spanish
- explosión nuclear de superficie
1, record 8, Spanish, explosi%C3%B3n%20nuclear%20de%20superficie
correct, feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 8, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Explosión de un arma nuclear en la superficie de la tierra o del agua; o por encima de la superficie a una altura menor que el radio de la bola de fuego. 1, record 8, Spanish, - explosi%C3%B3n%20nuclear%20de%20superficie
Record 9 - internal organization data 1989-01-23
Record 9, English
Record 9, Subject field(s)
- CBRNE Weapons
Record 9, Main entry term, English
- nuclear fireball
1, record 9, English, nuclear%20fireball
correct
Record 9, Abbreviations, English
Record 9, Synonyms, English
Record 9, French
Record 9, Domaine(s)
- Armes CBRNE
Record 9, Main entry term, French
- boule de feu nucléaire
1, record 9, French, boule%20de%20feu%20nucl%C3%A9aire
feminine noun
Record 9, Abbreviations, French
Record 9, Synonyms, French
Record 9, Textual support, French
Record 9, Spanish
Record 9, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


