noun / verb
halo
HAY-loh/ˈheɪləʊ/
A ring of light or color surrounding something.
A thin golden halo encircles Jesus's head in the devotional portrait.
Etymology
Greek halos described the disk of the sun or moon and the ring of light around them. The same luminous-circle image was applied to the light depicted around a holy figure’s head.
In context
Artists used thin rings of light instead of solid discs, making figures look more human and natural. But no matter the style, the halo remains a universal symbol.
More examples
- She sees halos around headlights when she drives at night.
- The coffee cup leaves a brown halo on the napkin.
- Mist halos the streetlights in a soft yellow glow.
Forms
halo · halos · haloes · haloed · haloing