I. ˈhā(ˌ)lō noun
( plural halos or haloes )
Etymology: Latin halos halo of the sun, from Greek halōs threshing floor, disk of the sun or the moon, halo around the sun or moon; akin to Greek halōn threshing floor, and perhaps to lyein to loosen — more at lose
1. : a circle, arc, or splotch of light either white or prismatically colored and definitely situated with reference to a luminous body and resulting from the reflection or refraction or both of its light ; specifically : circles round the sun or moon caused by the presence of ice particles in the atmosphere and differing from coronas in being of definite size usually of about 22° or 46° radius and if colored in showing red on the side nearest to the luminary
2. : something resembling a halo: as
a. : nimbus
b. : a differentiated zone surrounding a central object
the halo around a boil
the presence of a halo of alteration has been used as a guide to ore finding — A.M.Bateman
specifically : a zone usually of lighter colored tissue characteristically surrounding the lesions in certain plant diseases especially of bacterial origin
c. : a circlet of flowers, a ribbon, or a small hat worn off the face and back on the head by women
3. : the aura of glory, veneration, prestige, or sentiment surrounding an idealized person or thing
a … positive halo surrounds scientific endeavors — John Dewey
put a romantic halo about the old plantation life — Oscar Handlin
the exclusiveness of the institute … gave it a halo — Romola Nijinsky
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
: to form or surround with a halo : encircle as if with a halo
red-gold hair … haloing a slim face — Frank Yerby
the haloed lights burned her eyes — John Dos Passos
haloed by publicity — F.L.Allen
III. ˈha(ˌ)lō adjective
Etymology: hal-
: containing halogen — used especially of organic compounds
halo aldehydes
IV. noun
1. : a region of space surrounding a galaxy that is sparsely populated with luminous objects (as globular clusters) but is believed to contain a great deal of dark matter
2. or halo brace : an orthopedic device used to immobilize the head and neck (as to treat fracture of neck vertebrae) that consists of a metal band placed around the head and fastened to the skull usually with metal pins and is attached by extensions to an inflexible vest