/awr"ee ohl'/ , n.
1. a radiance surrounding the head or the whole figure in the representation of a sacred personage.
2. any encircling ring of light or color; halo.
3. Astron. corona (def. 3).
4. Geol. a zone of altered country rock around an igneous intrusion.
Also, aureola /aw ree"euh leuh, euh ree"-/ .
[ 1175-1225; ME aureola ( corona ) golden (crown), equiv. to aure ( us ) golden (see AUREATE) + -ola, fem. of -olus -OLE 1 ]