[ ə'ri:ələ ]
■ noun ( plural ~e -li: )
1》 Anatomy a small circular area, in particular the pigmented skin surrounding a nipple.
↘ Medicine a reddened patch around a spot or papule.
2》 Biology any of the small spaces between lines or cracks on a leaf or an insect's wing.
Derivatives
~r adjective
~te adjective
Origin
C17 (in the sense 'small space or interstice'): from L., lit. 'small open space', dimin. of area (see area ).