halo

Everyday

1. A ring or circle of light drawn around the head of a holy person or angel in pictures. tree →
2. A ring of light around the Sun or Moon, made by ice crystals in the sky. tree →
3. (informal) Behaviour that makes someone seem perfectly good: «Her halo slipped» = she did something naughty. tree →
4. A halo can also be a glowing ring of light around something other than a head. tree →

In the lessons

In church art and Bible pictures saints and angels have haloes. In science a halo round the Moon is caused by light bending in ice crystals in thin clouds. In everyday talk «his halo slipped» is a joke about a good child behaving badly. Phrases: «a halo around the Moon», «halo effect».

Examples

• The angel in the painting has a golden halo. tree →
• There was a halo around the Moon last night. tree →
• Ice crystals high in the sky can make a halo around the Sun. tree →
• My little brother acts like he has a halo, but he ate the cake! tree →
• In nativity plays the angels wear tinsel haloes. tree →
• Presently the background of the hall opened and the tree of knowledge appeared, surrounded by a halo of glory that almost blinded him. tree →

Note

Plural: haloes or halos — both accepted. Say HAY-lo. Not «hallo» (hello).