ha·lo
halo
- pronunciation:
- heI
lo
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
haloes, halos |
| definition 1: |
a circle of light depicted in paintings as shining around the head of a divine or sacred being.
The icon shows Jesus Christ with a golden halo about his head. |
| definition 2: |
any circle or band of light produced by reflection or refraction of light by ice crystals suspended in the earth's atmosphere, as around the sun or moon.
A halo around the moon was clearly visible last night. |
| related words: |
circle |
Halo comes from an ancient Greek word that means "a disk around the sun or moon."