nimbus
[ nim-buh s ]
/ ˈnɪm bəs /
noun, plural nim·bi [nim-buh bahy] /ˈnɪm bəbaɪ/, nim·bus·es.
Classical Mythology.
a shining cloud sometimes surrounding a deity when on earth.
a cloud, aura, atmosphere, etc., surrounding a person or thing: The candidate was encompassed with a nimbus of fame.
the type of dense clouds or cloud mass with ragged edges, that yields rain or snow; a rain cloud.
(initial capital letter) U.S. Aerospace.
one of a series of polar-orbiting meteorological and environmental research satellites, the last of which Nimbus 7, launched 1978, was the first satellite designed to monitor atmospheric pollutants.
Origin of nimbus
1610–20; < Latin: a rainstorm, rain cloud, thundercloud, cloud; akin to Latin
nebula and Greek
nephélē, néphos cloud
OTHER WORDS FROM nimbus
nim·bused, adjectiveWords nearby nimbus
nim tree,
nimble,
nimblewit,
nimbo-,
nimbostratus,
nimbus,
nimbus clouds,
nimby,
nimbyism,
nimeiry,
nimh
Example sentences from the Web for nimbus
British Dictionary definitions for nimbus
nimbus
/ (ˈnɪmbəs) /
noun plural -bi (-baɪ) or -buses
- a dark grey rain-bearing cloud
- (in combination)cumulonimbus clouds
- an emanation of light surrounding a saint or deity
- a representation of this emanation
a surrounding aura or atmosphere
Derived forms of nimbus
nimbused, adjectiveWord Origin for nimbus
C17: from Latin: cloud, radiance
Scientific definitions for nimbus
nimbus
[ nĭm′bəs ]
Plural nimbi (nĭm′bī′) nimbuses
A rain cloud.