What does "aureole" mean?
Aureole: 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.
Additional senses
- 2.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.
- 3.(Anat.) See Areola, 2.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00