# brough

/ˈbɹaʊ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brough
Updated: 2026-05-31

## Definition

a ring of light or a halo that you sometimes see around the moon or sun when the weather is changing.

For teachers: a luminous ring or halo appearing around the sun or moon, typically caused by the refraction of light through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

## Examples

- The moon had a bright brough around it last night.
- Sailors often watched for a brough around the moon as a sign that a storm was approaching.
- The appearance of a brough is a common optical phenomenon in cold climates where high-altitude ice crystals create a distinct circular halo around celestial bodies.

## Usage notes

- Primarily used in Scottish English or northern dialects to describe atmospheric halos.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.