nimbus

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a dark grey cloud bearing rain
  2. noun an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

nimbus cloud, rain cloud

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