Halo

Halo Ha"lo (h[=a]"l[-o]), n.; pl. {Halos} (-l[=o]z). [L. halos, acc. halo, Gr. "a`lws a thrashing floor, also (from its round shape) the disk of the sun or moon, and later a halo round it; cf. Gr. e'ily`ein to enfold, 'ely`ein to roll round, L. volvere, and E. voluble.] 1. A luminous circle, usually prismatically colored, round the sun or moon, and supposed to be caused by the refraction of light through crystals of ice in the atmosphere. Connected with halos there are often white bands, crosses, or arches, resulting from the same atmospheric conditions. [1913 Webster]

2. A circle of light; especially, the bright ring represented in painting as surrounding the heads of saints and other holy persons; a glory; a nimbus. [1913 Webster]

3. An ideal glory investing, or affecting one's perception of, an object. [1913 Webster]

4. A colored circle around a nipple; an areola. [1913 Webster]