nimbus
Nimbus (noun) means a glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art. Example: “The painting showed the saint with a golden nimbus around her head.”
How to use nimbus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a halo of light, or a heavy rain cloud.
Word forms
nimbi plural, nimbuses plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The painting showed the saint with a golden _____ around her head.
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.
Synonyms
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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.