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Definition of halo

halo

/ˈheɪ.loʊ/
ha · lo

Plural:halos
•
Past Simple:haloed
•
Past Participle:haloed
•
Present Participle:haloing
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halo Lexical Profile

halo Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A disk or circle of light shown surrounding or above the head of a saint or holy person in religious art to represent their holiness.

Example

"The Renaissance painting depicted the Virgin Mary with a radiant golden halo."


2

A circle of white or colored light around the sun, moon, or other luminous body caused by refraction through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Example

"A faint lunar halo appeared in the freezing night sky, signaling an approaching winter storm."


3

An aura of glory, veneration, or idealized sentiment surrounding a person or thing.

Example

"The late president's legacy is often viewed through a halo of historical nostalgia."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for halo

• verb

1

To surround with or as if with a halo.

Example

"The setting sun haloed her silhouette against the darkening horizon."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for halo

• Rhymes for halo

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'halos', derived from Ancient Greek 'halōs', which originally meant 'threshing floor' (typically circular in shape) and later came to mean 'the disk of the sun or moon' or a luminous ring around them.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Halo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/halo
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