1. Plural of aureola; a circle of light or radiance surrounding the head or body of a sacred figure in art.
Usage: art history; religious iconography
2. In anatomy, plural of aureola; a circular area of different color or texture, especially the pigmented area surrounding the nipple.
Usage: anatomy; medical

Examples

• The Byzantine icons featured golden aureolae around the saints' heads.
• Medieval paintings often depicted martyrs with luminous aureolae to indicate their holiness.
• The artist carefully rendered the aureolae in the religious fresco.
• In medical terminology, aureolae are important anatomical landmarks.
• The Renaissance masters used aureolae to distinguish divine figures from ordinary mortals.