Halo

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈheɪləʊ/
• US enPR: hāʹlō, IPA: /ˈheɪloÊŠ/
• Rhymes: -eɪləʊ

Origin

From Latin halos, from Ancient Greek ἅλως (hálōs, "disk of the sun or moon; ring of light around the sun or moon; threshing floor with its surrounding threshold; disk of a shield"); itself of unknown origin. Used in English since 1563, sense of light around someone’s head since 1646.

Full definition of halo

Noun

1. (astronomy) A circular band of coloured light, visible around the sun or moon etc., caused by reflection and refraction of light by ice crystals in the atmosphere.
2. (astronomy) A cloud of gas and other matter surrounding and captured by the gravitational field of a large diffuse astronomical object, such as a galaxy or cluster of galaxies.
3. Anything resembling this band, such as an effect caused by imperfect developing of photographs.
4. (religion) nimbus, a luminous disc, often of gold, around or over the heads of saints, etc., in religious paintings.
5. The metaphorical aura of glory, veneration or sentiment which surrounds an idealized entity.

Synonyms

• (luminous disc around head of saints in paintings) aureole, nimbus

Derived terms

• halo effect
• halo nucleus
• neutron halo
• nuclear halo
• proton halo

Verb

1. (transitive) To encircle with a halo.

Related terms

• halation

Anagrams

• hola