halo

halo [hā′lō]

n.

pl. halos or haloes [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]

1.

a) 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

b) a spherical distribution of stars and star clusters extending beyond the main body of certain galaxies, as the Milky Way

2. 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

3. the splendor or glory with which a famed, revered, or idealized person or thing is invested

vt.

haloed, haloing

to encircle with a halo