halo

[ hey-loh ]

/ ˈheɪ loʊ /

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See synonyms for: halo / haloed / haloing on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ha·los, ha·loes.

Also called nimbus . a geometric shape, usually in the form of a disk, circle, ring, or rayed structure, traditionally representing a radiant light around or above the head of a divine or sacred personage, an ancient or medieval monarch, etc.

an atmosphere or quality of glory, majesty, sanctity, or the like: The "profession" of a medieval lord cast a halo around him and made him a ruler of men.

Meteorology. any of a variety of bright circles or arcs centered on the sun or moon, caused by the refraction or reflection of light by ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere and exhibiting prismatic coloration ranging from red inside to blue outside (distinguished from corona).

Astronomy. a spherical cloud of gas clusters and stars that form part of a spiral galaxy.

any of various other things resembling a halo, especially a lighter or differently colored area surrounding an object: I think the scab was from some kind of bite, and now there's a halo around it with bruising.

Also called Cellini's halo . Heiligenschein.

an undesirable bright or dark ring surrounding an image on the fluorescent screen of a television tube, due to some fault either in transmission or reception.

verb (used with object), ha·loed, ha·lo·ing.

to surround with a halo.

verb (used without object), ha·loed, ha·lo·ing.

to form a halo.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of halo

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin, accusative of halōs “circle around the sun or moon,” from Greek hálōs “threshing floor; grain on a threshing floor; shield; halo”

OTHER WORDS FROM halo

un·ha·loed, adjective

Other definitions for halo (2 of 2)

halo-

a combining form meaning “salt,” used in the formation of compound words (halophyte); sometimes specialized as a combining form of halogen (halothane).

Also especially before a vowel, hal-.

Origin of halo-

<Greek, combining form of háls salt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use halo in a sentence

As long as the EV growth story holds up, investors will likely be happy to hand over money to other EV makers, even if their halos are slightly tarnished.
The electric car frenzy is helping even troubled companies raise big money|dzanemorris|October 23, 2020|Fortune
This means that the gaseous halo that surrounds our galaxy is not an independent entity, but rather is constantly interacting with the Milky Way, Kaaret says.
Meet the disk-shaped halo of hot gas you currently live in|Kate Baggaley|October 21, 2020|Popular-Science
This stellar wind is responsible for stripping the stars to their cores, and in the process creates a halo of dust around the pair.
This pair of dancing stars will one day collide and explode|María Paula Rubiano A.|October 16, 2020|Popular-Science
As studies from Comscore and multiple others have shown, this creates a halo effect for the brands that advertise there.
‘Demonstrate how attention metrics drive long-term outcomes’: How The Telegraph proves its ads work|Lucinda Southern|October 8, 2020|Digiday

The return of professional baseball, basketball and hockey may have attracted audiences back to TV, but it has not created a halo effect to increase overall TV viewership, according to Sportico’s analysis of Nielsen figures.
‘They got the memo’: Quibi changes tone, tact after failed debut|Tim Peterson|August 12, 2020|Digiday
He relapsed into silence a little while, his face not at all marked with grief or pain, but haloed with a high and steadfast calm.
Cursed|George Allan England
This haloed summer still idled on its way, yet all the while sped quickly; like some languid lady in an elevator.
Seventeen|Booth Tarkington
Only the towering peaks were alight with crimson and gold, which haloed their bulk in majestic mystery.
Tharon of Lost Valley|Vingie E. Roe
Of the pitiful thing that her life had been this man made a wondrous thing, all sweet with twilights and haloed with service.
Tharon of Lost Valley|Vingie E. Roe
Sowles' arms were uplifted, and one of Cam's clever little effects haloed his flying locks.
Telempathy|Vance Simonds

British Dictionary definitions for halo (1 of 2)

halo

/ (ˈheɪləʊ) /

noun plural -loes or -los

a disc or ring of light around the head of an angel, saint, etc, as in painting or sculpture

the aura surrounding an idealized, famous, or admired person, thing, or event

a circle of light around the sun or moon, caused by the refraction of light by particles of ice

astronomy a spherical cloud of stars surrounding the Galaxy and other spiral galaxies

verb -loes, -los, -loing or -loed

to surround with or form a halo

Derived forms of halo

halo-like, adjective

Word Origin for halo

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Latin halōs circular threshing floor, from Greek

British Dictionary definitions for halo (2 of 2)

halo-

hali- or before a vowel hal-

combining form

indicating salt or the seahalophyte

relating to or containing a halogenhalothane

Word Origin for halo-

from Greek hals, hal- sea, salt

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for halo

halo

[ hā′lō ]

A hazy ring of colored light in the sky around the Sun, Moon, or a similar bright object. A halo is caused by the reflection and refraction of light through atmospheric ice crystals.

halo

Origin of halo

OTHER WORDS FROM halo

Other definitions for halo (2 of 2)

Origin of halo-

Words related to halo

How to use halo in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for halo (1 of 2)

Derived forms of halo

Word Origin for halo

British Dictionary definitions for halo (2 of 2)

hali- or before a vowel hal-

Word Origin for halo-

Scientific definitions for halo