Adjacent Words

aureole definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the outermost region of the sun's atmosphere; visible as a white halo during a solar eclipse [syn: aureole, corona]
2: an indication of radiant light drawn around the head of a saint [syn: aura, aureole, halo, nimbus, glory, gloriole]

Merriam Webster's

or aureola noun Etymology: Middle English aureole heavenly crown worn by saints, from Medieval Latin aureola, from Latin, feminine of aureolus golden, diminutive of aureus Date: 13th century 1. a. a radiant light around the head or body of a representation of a sacred personage b. something resembling an aureole <an aureole of hair> 2. radiance, aura <an aureole of youth and health> 3. the luminous area surrounding the sun or other bright light when seen through thin cloud or mist ; corona 4. a ring-shaped zone around an igneous intrusion • aureole transitive verb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (also aureola) 1 a halo or circle of light, esp. round the head or body of a portrayed religious figure. 2 a corona round the sun or moon. Etymology: ME f. L aureola (corona), = golden (crown), fem. of aureolus f. aureus f. aurum gold: aureole f. OF f. L aureola

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Aureola Au*re"o*la, Aureole Au"re*ole, n. [F. aur['e]ole, fr. L. aureola, (fem adj.) of gold (sc. corona crown), dim. of aureus. See Aureate, Oriole.] 1. (R. C. Theol.) A celestial crown or accidental glory added to the bliss of heaven, as a reward to those (as virgins, martyrs, preachers, etc.) who have overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. 2. The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround the figure and represent the glory of Christ, saints, and others held in special reverence. Note: Limited to the head, it is strictly termed a nimbus; when it envelops the whole body, an aureola. --Fairholt. 3. A halo, actual or figurative. The glorious aureole of light seen around the sun during total eclipses. --Proctor. The aureole of young womanhood. --O. W. Holmes. 4. (Anat.) See Areola, 2.

Moby Thesaurus

O, annular muscle, annulus, anthelion, antisun, areola, aura, chaplet, circle, circuit, circumference, circus, closed circle, corona, coronet, countersun, crown, cycle, diadem, discus, disk, eternal return, fairy ring, garland, glory, halo, lasso, logical circle, loop, looplet, lunar corona, lunar halo, magic circle, mock moon, mock sun, moon dog, nimbus, noose, orbit, paraselene, parhelic circle, parhelion, radius, rainbow, ring, rondelle, round, roundel, saucer, solar corona, solar halo, sphincter, sun dog, vicious circle, wheel, wreath