areola

Meaning

1. The circular, darkly pigmented area surrounding a nipple; the areola mammae.
2. 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.
3. Any of the small spaces throughout areolar connective tissue.
4. Any of the small spaces between fibres of the tissues of certain lichens.
5. Small patches, bearing the spines and glochids characteristic of the stems of cacti.

Synonyms

halo

interstice

gap

ring of color

chlamys

circumference

confines

coronet

crevice

department

field

fissure

game

half-term

hiatus

holiday

interval

lag

leave

leave of absence

line

metier

orbit

perianth

perimeter

preserve

quad

realm

rift

ring

💍

round

slit

slot

space

spacing

sphere

vacation

vocation

window

🪟

floral envelope

subject area

area

perigone

areola mammae

perigonium

crack

falls

vac

bailiwick

break

chink

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈɹi.ə.lə/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin āreola (“small vacant space, garden”), diminutive of ārea. Doublet of areole.