nimbus

American  

[nim-buhs] / ˈnɪm bəs /

noun

plural

nimbi, nimbuses

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 /

plural

nimbi

1. A rain cloud.

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Other Word Forms

• nimbused
  adjective

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

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

Eli Lilly LLY 1.90%increase; green up pointing triangle and Nimbus Therapeutics have entered into a multi-year collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement to develop an oral treatment for obesity and other metabolic diseases.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

Another, seen with newer variants Stratus and Nimbus that are still around, is a "razor-sharp" sore throat.

From BBC • Dec. 15, 2025

Finally, he gave up any thought of more sleep, got up, dressed, picked up his Nimbus Two Thousand, and walked quietly out of the dormitory.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling