halo Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint
    glory; gloriole; nimbus; aura; aureole.
  2. noun a toroidal shape
    annulus; ring; anchor ring; doughnut.
    • a ring of ships in the harbor
    • a halo of smoke
  3. noun a circle of light around the sun or moon

WordNet

Ha"lo noun
Etymology
L. halos, acc. halo, Gr. a thrashing floor, also (from its round shape) the disk of the sun or moon, and later a halo round it; cf. Gr. to enfold, to roll round, L. volvere, and E. voluble.
Wordforms
plural Halos()
Definitions
  1. A luminous circle, usually prismatically colored, round the sun or moon, and supposed to be caused by the refraction of light through crystals of ice in the atmosphere. Connected with halos there are often white bands, crosses, or arches, resulting from the same atmospheric conditions.
  2. A circle of light; especially, the bright ring represented in painting as surrounding the heads of saints and other holy persons; a glory; a nimbus.
  3. An ideal glory investing, or affecting one's perception of, an object.
  4. A colored circle around a nipple; an areola.
Ha"lo transitive verb & intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Haloed ; present participle & verbal noun Haloing
Definitions
  1. To form, or surround with, a halo; to encircle with, or as with, a halo.
    The fire That haloed round his saintly brow. Sothey.

Webster 1913