aureole

[ awr-ee-ohl ]

/ ˈɔr iˌoʊl /

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noun

a radiance surrounding the head or the whole figure in the representation of a sacred personage.

any encircling ring of light or color; halo.

Astronomy. corona (def. 3).

Geology. a zone of altered country rock around an igneous intrusion.

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Also au·re·o·la

[aw-ree-uh-luh, uh-ree-]. /ɔˈri ə lə, əˈri-/.

Origin of aureole

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin aureola (corona) “golden (crown),” equivalent to aure(us) “golden” (see aureate) + -ola, feminine of -olus noun suffix (see -ole¹)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use aureole in a sentence

Whenever this shadow was projected upon a cloud, his head appeared surrounded by a luminous aureola.
Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20)|Various
These luminous appearances—these aureola rays—have, in addition to the darting movement, a rapid rotary movement around the head.
Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20)|Various
As soon as the shadow of a mountaineer is projected upon a mist, his head gives rise to a shadow surrounded by a luminous aureola.
Young Folks' Library, Volume XI (of 20)|Various
The royal castle shone with a strange lustre; a sun seemed to send forth a halo; an ominous aureola appeared in the distance.
Psyche|Louis Couperus

The master of the Aureola was worn out with anxiety and want of rest, for his vessel had been ashore for forty-eight hours.
Looking Seaward Again|Walter Runciman

British Dictionary definitions for aureole

aureole

aureola (ɔːˈriːələ)

/ (ˈɔːrɪˌəʊl) /

noun

(esp in paintings of Christian saints and the deity) a border of light or radiance enveloping the head or sometimes the whole of a figure represented as holy

a less common word for halo

another name for corona (def. 2)

Word Origin for aureole

C13: from Old French auréole, from Medieval Latin (corōna) aureola golden (crown), from Latin aureolus golden, from aurum gold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for aureole

aureole

[ ôr′ē-ōl′ ]

A band of metamorphic rock surrounding a body of cooled magma. Aureoles form through the process of contact metamorphism. See more at contact metamorphism.

See corona.

aureole

Origin of aureole

Words related to aureole

How to use aureole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for aureole

aureola (ɔːˈriːələ)

Word Origin for aureole

Scientific definitions for aureole