bishop's ring: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/scientific (meteorology, volcanology); Specialised (religious attire).
Quick answer
What does “bishop's ring” mean?
A large, luminous ring or halo seen around the sun, caused by diffraction of light by fine particles (especially volcanic dust) in the Earth's atmosphere.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, luminous ring or halo seen around the sun, caused by diffraction of light by fine particles (especially volcanic dust) in the Earth's atmosphere.
A meteorological/astronomical optical phenomenon signalling a significant volcanic eruption has injected aerosols into the stratosphere. It can also refer to a large, ornamental ring worn by a bishop as part of ecclesiastical regalia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage for either sense. Spelling follows national conventions for possessive 's'.
Connotations
Identical technical/specialised connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Used only in relevant specialist fields.
Grammar
How to Use “bishop's ring” in a Sentence
The [eruption] produced a bishop's ring.A bishop's ring was observed around the sun.Scientists study the bishop's ring to gauge atmospheric opacity.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in atmospheric science, geology, and volcanology papers to describe post-eruption optical effects.
Everyday
Virtually never used. An observer might describe it as 'a weird ring around the sun'.
Technical
Primary context. A diagnostic sign of stratospheric aerosol loading from volcanic eruptions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bishop's ring”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bishop's ring”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bishop's ring”
- Confusing it with a common 22° halo or a sun dog. Using it to refer to any ring around the sun. Misplacing the apostrophe (e.g., bishops' ring).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A rainbow is caused by refraction and reflection in water droplets, while a bishop's ring is caused by diffraction from much smaller volcanic dust particles.
It is named after the English astronomer and meteorologist Sereno Bishop, who first described it in detail following the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
Yes, it appears as a large, faint, brownish or bluish ring around the sun, often with a reddish inner edge. It is best viewed by blocking the direct sun with an object.
It can persist for months or even years after a major eruption, as fine aerosols slowly settle out of the stratosphere.
A large, luminous ring or halo seen around the sun, caused by diffraction of light by fine particles (especially volcanic dust) in the Earth's atmosphere.
Bishop's ring is usually technical/scientific (meteorology, volcanology); specialised (religious attire). in register.
Bishop's ring: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪʃəps ˌrɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪʃəps ˌrɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bishop wearing a large, shiny ring, and then imagine the sun wearing a similar giant, luminous ring after a volcano erupts.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SKY IS WEARING JEWELLERY (for the atmospheric phenomenon).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of a bishop's ring in meteorology?