AREOLA

areola, ring of color

(noun) small circular area such as that around the human nipple or an inflamed area around a pimple or insect bite

areola

(noun) small space in a tissue or body part such as the area between veins on a leaf or an insect’s wing

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

areola (plural areolas or areolae or areolæ)

(anatomy) The colored circle around a nipple, more exactly known as areola mammae.

(anatomy) Any small circular area that is different from its immediate environment, such as the colored ring around the pupil of the eye (iris) or an inflamed region surrounding a pimple.

(anatomy) Any of the small spaces throughout areolar connective tissue.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with aureola.

Source: Wiktionary


A*re"o*la, n.; pl. Areolæ. Etym: [L. areola, dim. of area: cf. F. aréole. See Area.]

1. An interstice or small space, as between the cracks of the surface in certain crustaceous lichens; or as between the fibers composing organs or vessels that interlace; or as between the nervures of an insect's wing.

2. (Anat. & Med.)

Definition: The colored ring around the nipple, or around a vesicle or pustule.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

19 June 2025

ROOTS

(noun) the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage; “his roots in Texas go back a long way”; “he went back to Sweden to search for his roots”; “his music has African roots”


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