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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Also au·re·o·la [aw-ree-uh-luh, uh-ree-]. /ɔˈri ə lə, əˈri-/.
Words nearby aureole
aureate language, aurelia, Aurelian, Aurelius, aurene glass, aureole, aureolin, Aureomycin, aureus, au revoir, auri-
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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