halo

[ hey-loh ]

See synonyms for halo 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.

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).

Origin of halo-

<Greek, combining form of háls salt

Also especially before a vowel, hal-.

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

How to use halo in a sentence

I kind o' used t' think she was all t' th' harps an' haloes.
The Definite Object | Jeffery Farnol
In the foreground are himself and his cousin as monks adoring, also with haloes, and expressions of mock ecstasy!
A Student in Arms | Donald Hankey
Seated together, their heads surrounded by haloes, the two lovers display their courtly charms.
The Loves of Krishna in Indian Painting and Poetry | W. G. Archer
As tapestry Pricked out by women's needles; point-device As saints in fitted haloes.
The Vigil of Venus and Other Poems by "Q" | Q
Solar and lunar haloes, and coronae, and mock suns and moons are often seen.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for halo (1 of 2)

halo

/ (ˈheɪləʊ) /

nounplural -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

Origin of halo

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

Derived forms of halo

halo-like, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for halo- (2 of 2)

halo-

combining form

indicating salt or the sea: halophyte
relating to or containing a halogen: halothane

Origin of 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.

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