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Dictionary Language resources

aureole

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːrɪəʊl/

(also aureola /ɔːˈrɪələ/)

Definition of aureole

noun

1a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, especially as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy: her hair framed her face in a golden aureole
a corona around the sun or moon.

2another term for areola.

3 Geology the zone of metamorphosed rock surrounding an igneous intrusion.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French aureole, from Latin aureola (corona) 'golden (crown)', feminine of aureolus (diminutive of aureus, from aurum 'gold')