[ 'ɔ:rɪəʊl ]
(also aureola ɔ:'rɪələ )
■ noun
1》 (in paintings) a radiant circle surrounding a person's head or body as a way of representing holiness.
2》 a corona around the sun or moon.
3》 Geology the zone of metamorphosed rock surrounding an igneous intrusion.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~ , from L. aureola (corona) 'golden (crown)', feminine of aureolus (dimin. of aureus , from aurum 'gold').