nimbus
/ˈnɪmbəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɪmbəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnim-bəs/ (ame, mw)
nimbus — noun
1. a low, heavy, dark-grey cloud from which steady rain or snow falls.
a low, heavy, dark-grey cloud from which steady rain or snow falls.
A thick nimbus rolled in from the sea before the hikers reached the cabin.
nimbus as the subject of a weather-arrival verb
Padma watched a dark nimbus settle over the rice fields outside her village.
collocation: dark nimbus
The pilot turned the small plane to avoid a heavy nimbus stretching across the valley.
By late afternoon a low nimbus had hidden the mountain peaks behind a grey sheet.
- rain cloud
everyday term; what most speakers say instead of 'nimbus'
- storm cloud
stronger; suggests thunder or heavy weather, not just rain
- thunderhead
tall, towering rain cloud associated with thunderstorms
- cirrus
thin, high, wispy cloud carrying no rain
文法句型
a nimbus of [noun]
用法筆記
Mostly used in meteorology writing and older or literary prose; everyday English prefers 'rain cloud' or 'storm cloud'.
常見錯誤
2. in art, a ring or cloud of light painted behind a saint, god, or holy person to
in art, a ring or cloud of light painted behind a saint, god, or holy person to suggest divine power, or any similar soft glow surrounding someone or something.
In the old painting, a golden nimbus glowed around the saint's head.
collocation: golden nimbus + around the head
Imani sketched a soft nimbus of light above the angel in her art class.
pattern: a nimbus of light
The stained-glass window showed Mary with a pale blue nimbus behind her hair.
On the stage, a bright nimbus from the spotlight surrounded the young singer's face.
Mei described the candle as throwing a warm nimbus across the chapel walls.
文法句型
a nimbus of [noun]
a nimbus around / above [noun]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always describes a glow of LIGHT, never a cloud of water. Typical contexts are religious art, painting, or literary descriptions of stage or candle light.