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halo

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The definition of a halo is a ring of light that encircles something bright, or a ring of light over the head of an angel or other spiritual being, or a feeling of glory or reverence that surrounds a person or thing.

(noun)

An example of a halo is a ring of light around the moon.
An example of a halo is the feeling that all children in a family are special because the parents are special; the halo effect.

See halo in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. halos or haloes

1. a ring of light that seems to encircle the sun, moon, or other luminous body: it results from the refraction of light through ice crystals in our atmosphere
2. a spherical distribution of stars and star clusters extending beyond the main body of certain galaxies, as the Milky Way
a symbolic disk or ring of light shown around or above the head of a saint, etc., as in pictures; nimbus: often used as a symbol of virtue or innocence
the splendor or glory with which a famed, revered, or idealized person or thing is invested

Origin: L halos (gen. & acc. halo) < Gr halōs, circular threshing floor, round disk of the sun or moon, hence halo around the sun or moon < halein, to grind < IE base *al-, to grind > Arm ałam, grind, Hindi āṭā, meal

transitive verb haloed, haloing

to encircle with a halo

of the sea: halobiont
having to do with a salt: halophyte
having to do with a halogen: haloid

Origin: < Gr hals (gen. halos), salt, hence sea

See halo in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ha·los or ha·loes

a. A circular band of colored light around a light source, as around the sun or moon, caused by the refraction and reflection of light by ice particles suspended in the intervening atmosphere.
b. Something resembling this band.
A luminous ring or disk of light surrounding the heads or bodies of sacred figures, such as saints, in religious paintings; a nimbus.
The aura of majesty or glory surrounding a person or thing that is regarded with reverence, awe, or sentiment.

transitive verb ha·loed, ha·lo·ing, ha·loes

To encircle with or as if with a halo.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin halō

Origin: , from accusative of Latin halōs

Origin: , from Greek, threshing floor, disk of or around the sun or moon

or hal-

prefix