nimbus
8 synonyms for nimbus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use nimbus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
nimbus clouds
golden nimbus
Etymology
From Latin nimbus, meaning "dark cloud." The rain-cloud sense was formalized in 1803 by the British meteorologist Luke Howard when he devised the modern system of cloud names.
Full origin of nimbus →Frequently asked questions
What does “nimbus” mean?
The word “nimbus” means a glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art. In plain terms, either a halo of light, or a heavy rain cloud.
How do you pronounce “nimbus”?
“Nimbus” is pronounced NIHM-buhs (/ˈnɪmbəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “nimbus” in a sentence?
Here is “nimbus” used in a sentence: “The painting showed the saint with a golden nimbus around her head.”
What part of speech is “nimbus”?
“Nimbus” is a noun.
Where does the word “nimbus” come from?
The word “nimbus” dates back to around 1803 and comes from Latin. From Latin nimbus, meaning "dark cloud." The rain-cloud sense was formalized in 1803 by the British meteorologist Luke Howard when he devised the modern system of cloud names.
How many meanings does “nimbus” have?
“Nimbus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art.
