Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

nimbus

/ˈnɪmbəs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.62 in modern English

Syllables: nimb-us
IPA: /ˈnɪmbəs/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A circle of light; a halo.

noun

A grey rain cloud.

Example Sentences

"[pages 99–100] Cumulo-cirro-stratus vel Nimbus. […] The rain cloud. A cloud or system of clouds from which rain is falling. It is a horizontal sheet, above which the cirrus spreads, while the cumulus enters it laterally and from beneath. […] [page 107] The nimbus, although in itself one of the least beautiful clouds, is yet now and then superbly decorated with its attendant the rainbow; which can only be seen in perfection when backed by the widely extended uniform gloom of this modification."

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.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈnɪmbəs/
British English: /ˈnɪmbəs/

Inflected Forms

nimbi (plural) nimbuses (plural)

Derived Forms

nimbused nimbuslike

Frequently Paired Words

nimbed

Synonyms

aura aureole halo glory gloriole nimbus cloud rain cloud

Rhymes With

cumulonimbus limbus

Questions

How do you pronounce nimbus?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnɪmbəs/.
What does nimbus mean?: A circle of light; a halo.
Where does nimbus come from?: 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.

How to pronounce nimbus

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “nimbus”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈnɪmbəs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “nimbus”.
Repeat and practice — Say “nimbus” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.