nimbus

noun

nim·​bus ˈnim-bəs How to pronounce nimbus (audio)
plural nimbi ˈnim-ˌbī How to pronounce nimbus (audio) -ˌbē How to pronounce nimbus (audio) or nimbuses
1
a
: a luminous vapor, cloud, or atmosphere about a god or goddess when on earth
b
: a cloud or atmosphere (as of romance) about a person or thing
2
: an indication (such as a circle) of radiant light or glory about the head of a drawn or sculptured divinity, saint, or sovereign
3
a
: a rain cloud

Illustration of nimbus

Illustration of nimbus
  • nimbus 2

Examples of nimbus in a Sentence

fans are inevitably disappointed when the nimbus of glamour about their favorite celebrity turns out to be an illusion the nimbi for the sculpted figures around the exterior of the church are simple disks about the saints' heads
Recent Examples on the Web All these flat shapes are limned by dark lines — the reverse of the delicate nimbus of light surrounding them in the original. Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2023 The Ottoman artist chose to depict the prophet’s purity through the use of white fabrics, and his entire being as touched by the light of God via the large flaming nimbus that encircles his body. Christiane Gruber, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2023 O’Connell — Didi, to her intimates — is petite and nimble, with a queenly nimbus of red hair and a default expression, offstage anyway, of intent curiosity. New York Times, 17 June 2022 The silhouette of low domes and pencil-thin minarets piercing a nimbus of pale sky above was the continent of Asia. New York Times, 12 May 2022 That's maybe the blessing and the curse of Plaza: the fact that the couple's real-life union subsumes the play or at least hovers above and around it in nearly every moment, a golden nimbus of celebrity. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2022 Although the ambiguity dissipates in the measures that follow, a nimbus of uncertainty persists. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022 They were time-stamped by their hair styles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them. New York Times, 4 June 2021 They were time-stamped by their hairstyles and clothing as citizens of the 1970s and ’80s, but they were made eternal by their direct gazes, formal poses and the nimbus of light with which Ms. Rivera surrounded them. BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nimbus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, rainstorm, cloud; probably akin to Latin nebula cloud — more at nebula

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of nimbus was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near nimbus

Cite this Entry

“Nimbus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nimbus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nimbus

noun
nim·​bus ˈnim-bəs How to pronounce nimbus (audio)
plural nimbi -ˌbī How to pronounce nimbus (audio)
-ˌbē
or nimbuses
1
: a shining cloud about a god or goddess when on earth
2
: an indication (as a circle) of radiant light about the head of a drawn or sculptured god or saint
3
: a rain cloud

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