nimbus

American  

[nim-buhs] / ˈnɪm bəs /

noun

nimbi, plural nimbuses plural

1. Classical Mythology. a shining cloud sometimes surrounding a deity when on earth.

2. a cloud, aura, atmosphere, etc., surrounding a person or thing.

   The candidate was encompassed with a nimbus of fame.

3. halo.

4. the type of dense clouds or cloud mass with ragged edges, that yields rain or snow; a rain cloud.

5. (initial capital letter) one of a series of polar-orbiting meteorological and environmental research satellites, the last of which Nimbus 7, launched 1978, was the first satellite designed to monitor atmospheric pollutants.

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nimbus British  

/ ˈnɪmbəs /

noun

1. 1. a dark grey rain-bearing cloud

   2. ( in combination )

      cumulonimbus clouds

2. 1. an emanation of light surrounding a saint or deity

   2. a representation of this emanation

3. a surrounding aura or atmosphere

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nimbus Scientific  

/ nĭm′bəs /

nimbi plural

1. A rain cloud.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nimbused
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• nimbi
  plural
• nimbuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nimbus

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin, “rainstorm, rain cloud, thundercloud, cloud”; akin to Latin nebula and Greek nephélē, néphos “cloud,” and Slavic ( Polish ) niebo “sky, heaven”

Explanation

A nimbus is a glowing light that encircles someone or something. A shadowy figure standing in front of your car's headlights might have a nimbus around it. One kind of nimbus is the holy glow that's said to surround the body or head of a saint — a halo, in other words. Many religious works of art feature Christian saints, each with a radiant nimbus. There is a more scientific kind of nimbus as well, a large, gray rain cloud. In Latin, nimbus simply means "cloud," possibly connected to nebula, "mist, vapor, or fog."

Example Sentences

The trailer also teased Harry’s acceptance letter from Hogwarts and his wand and Nimbus broom.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

A montage shows Harry arriving at the magical school, receiving his wand and Nimbus broom and meeting his new classmates, including Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

Boston-based drug-discovery firm Nimbus Therapeutics has been experimenting with Nova to help the company discover molecules that could become future medicines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Those whose Nimbus card shows only the "difficulty with crowds" icon will be asked to visit guest services for personalised support instead.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Nimbus motioned to one of the lower buildings.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown