nimbus en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin nimbus (“dark cloud”). Doublet of nimb. Sense 2 (“grey rain cloud”) was coined by the British chemist and amateur meteorologist Luke Howard (1772–1864): see the 1803 quotation.
Meanings
- A circle of light; a halo.
-
A grey rain cloud.
[pages 99–100] Cumulo-cirro-stratus vel Nimbus. […] The rain cloud. A cloud or system of clouds from which rain is falling. It is a horizontal sheet, above which the cirrus spreads, while the cumulus enters it laterally and from beneath. […] [page 107] The nimbus, although in itself one of the least beautiful clouds, is yet now and then superbly decorated with its attendant the rainbow; which can only be seen in perfection when backed by the widely extended uniform gloom of this modification.
1803 July, Luke Howard, “XVIII. On the Modifications of Clouds, and on the Principles of Their Production, Suspension, and Destruction; being the Substance of an Essay Read before the Askesian Society in the Session 1802–3.”, in Alexander Tilloch, editor, The Philosophical Magazine and Journal: Comprehending the Various Branches of Science, the Liberal and Fine Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce, volume XVI, number 62, London: […] [Richard Taylor] for Alexander Tilloch; and sold by Messrs. Richardson, […], →ISSN, →OCLC, pages 99–100 and 107:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| nimbuses | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| nimbi | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
Translations (62)
cmn 光輪 /光轮 (circle of light — see also halo) · ca nimbe (circle of light — see also halo) · id nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · cmn 光環 /光环 (circle of light — see also halo) · ru дождево́е о́блако (rain cloud) · tr yağmur bulutu (rain cloud) · es nimbo (rain cloud) · it nimbo (circle of light — see also halo) · cmn 雨雲 /雨云 (rain cloud) · ru орео́л (circle of light — see also halo) · sh светокруг (circle of light — see also halo) · sh нимбус (circle of light — see also halo) · tr hale (circle of light — see also halo) · ny khongwa (rain cloud) · ja 光環 (circle of light — see also halo) · cy nimbws (rain cloud) · mi okewa (rain cloud) · fi sadepilvi (rain cloud) · pt nimbo (rain cloud) · ja 後光 (circle of light — see also halo) · nl nimbus (rain cloud) · ja 暈 (circle of light — see also halo) · pl nimb (circle of light — see also halo) · sh хало (circle of light — see also halo) · eo aŭreolo (circle of light — see also halo) · sh halo (circle of light — see also halo) · cs nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · nl nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · cmn 圓光 /圆光 (circle of light — see also halo) · cy lleugylch (circle of light — see also halo) · sh oreol (circle of light — see also halo) · bg нимба (circle of light — see also halo) · la nimbus (rain cloud) · pl nimbus (rain cloud) · mi kēkēao (rain cloud) · ru нимб (circle of light — see also halo) · fi sädekehä (circle of light — see also halo) · tl ulaning alapaap (rain cloud) · pl nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · sh aureola (circle of light — see also halo) · pt nimbo (circle of light — see also halo) · cmn 暈 /晕 (circle of light — see also halo) · bg дъждовен облак (rain cloud) · sh svetokrug (circle of light — see also halo) · sh nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · tr ayla (circle of light — see also halo) · fr nimbus (rain cloud) · cs nimbus (rain cloud) · de Nimbus (rain cloud) · fr nimbe (circle of light — see also halo) · id nimbus (rain cloud) · sh ореол (circle of light — see also halo) · nl halo (circle of light — see also halo) · tl dagim (rain cloud) · ja 雨雲 (rain cloud) · la nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · sv nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · bg ореол (circle of light — see also halo) · ko 난운 (rain cloud) · fi nimbus (rain cloud) · de Nimbus (circle of light — see also halo) · sh ауреола (circle of light — see also halo)