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nimbus - 7 dictionary results
nim⋅bus
[nim-buh
s] 
–noun, plural -bi [-bahy] , -bus⋅es.
[-bahy] , -bus⋅es. | 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 (def. 1). |
| 4. | the type of dense clouds or cloud mass with ragged edges, that yields rain or snow; a rain cloud. |
| 5. | (initial capital letter) U.S. Aerospace. 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. |
Origin:
1610–20; < L: a rainstorm, rain cloud, thundercloud, cloud; akin to L nebula and Gk nephélē, néphos cloud
1610–20; < L: a rainstorm, rain cloud, thundercloud, cloud; akin to L nebula and Gk nephélē, néphos cloud
Related forms:
nimbused, adjective
ha⋅lo
[hey-loh] noun, plural -los, -loes, verb, -loed, -lo⋅ing.–noun
| 1. | 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. |
| 2. | an atmosphere or quality of glory, majesty, sanctity, or the like: the halo around Shakespeare's works; She put a halo around her son. |
| 3. | 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 ). |
| 4. | Astronomy. a spherical cloud of gas clusters and stars that form part of a spiral galaxy. |
| 5. | 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)
| 6. | to surround with a halo. |
–verb (used without object)
| 7. | to form a halo. |
Origin:
1555–65; < L, acc. of halōs circle round sun or moon < Gk hálōs such a circle, disk, orig. threshing floor
1555–65; < L, acc. of halōs circle round sun or moon < Gk hálōs such a circle, disk, orig. threshing floor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To nimbus
| nim·bus (nĭm'bəs) n. pl. nim·bi (-bī') or nim·bus·es
[Latin, cloud; see nebh- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Nimbus
Nim"bus\, n.; pl. L. Nimbi, E. Nimbuses. [L., a rain storm, a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they appeared on earth.]1. (Fine Arts) A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n., 5. Note: "The nimbus is of pagan origin." "As an atribute of power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil spirits." --Fairholl. 2. (Meteor.) A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds. See Cloud.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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nimbus
1616, "bright cloud surrounding a god," from L. nimbus "cloud," perhaps related to nebula "cloud, mist" (see nebula). Meaning "halo" is first recorded c.1730. Meteorological sense of "a rain cloud" is from 1803. Nimbostratus in the modern sense first attested 1932.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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| nimbus (nĭm'bəs) Pronunciation Key
Plural nimbi (nĭm'bī') or nimbuses A rain cloud. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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nimbus
in art, radiant circle or disk surrounding the head of a holy person, a representation of spiritual character through the symbolism of light. In Hellenistic and Roman art the sun-god Helios and Roman emperors often appear with a crown of rays. Because of its pagan origin, the form was avoided in Early Christian art, but a simple circular nimbus was adopted by Christian emperors for their official portraits. From the middle of the 4th century, Christ was also shown with this imperial attribute, as was his symbol, the Lamb of God, from the end of the 4th century. In the 5th century it was sometimes given to angels, but it was not until the 6th century that the halo became customary for the Virgin Mary and other saints. For a period during the 5th century, living persons of eminence were depicted with a square nimbus.
Learn more about nimbus with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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