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areola

noun
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are·​o·​la | \ ə-ˈrē-ə-lə How to pronounce areola (audio) ; ˌer-ē-ˈō- How to pronounce areola (audio) , ˌa-rē- \
plural areolae\ ə-​ˈrē-​ə-​ˌlē How to pronounce areolae (audio) , ˌer-​ē-​ˈō-​ˌlē , ˌa-​rē-​ \ or areolas

Definition of areola

: a small area between things or about something especially : a colored ring (as about the nipple, a vesicle, or a pustule)
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Other Words from areola

areolar \ ə-​ˈrē-​ə-​lər How to pronounce areolar (audio) \ adjective
areolate \ ə-​ˈrē-​ə-​lət How to pronounce areolate (audio) \ adjective

Examples of areola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Women with accessory breast tissue can have extra nipples or areolas; this condition is called polythelia. — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "This Woman Started Lactating From Her Vulva After Childbirth—Here’s How That Can Happen," 12 June 2019 The ring of color around each of your nipples is called the areola. — Kristin Koch, Seventeen, "9 Weird Things About Your Boobs That Are Totally Average," 10 Oct. 2017 In the study, published this week in Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology, University of Queensland researchers measured the nipple size—including the areola—of 63 consenting undergrads between ages 18 and 33. — Sarah Klein, Health.com, "Scientists Went Around Measuring a Bunch of Nipples—and Found Something Surprising," 27 June 2018 Images capture blood, vulvas, placenta, areola, crowning shots, and inaugural breastfeeding. — Allison Yarrow, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Childbirth Photos Instagram Didn't Want You to See," 11 May 2018 Hairy: Stray, dark hairs growing out of the areola area are normal. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "There Are 8 Types of Nipples in the World," 10 Jan. 2018 Crouching at forty feet tall, her firm breasts and large white areolas stand at attention. — Longreads, "Kara Walker’s Subtlety," 28 Feb. 2018 To do this, wash your hands, cup your breast with one hand and form a C-shape around your areola with your thumb and pointer finger. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Chelsea Peretti Brought Her Breast Pump to the SAG Awards Because You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do," 23 Jan. 2018 Flat: The entire nipple is flat and blends into the areola. — Hannah Orenstein, Seventeen, "There Are 8 Types of Nipples in the World," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'areola.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of areola

1664, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for areola

New Latin, from Latin, small open space, diminutive of area

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Time Traveler for areola

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The first known use of areola was in 1664

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Cite this Entry

“Areola.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/areola. Accessed 29 January 2020.

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More Definitions for areola

areola

noun
are·​o·​la | \ ə-ˈrē-ə-lə How to pronounce areola (audio) \
plural areolae\ -​ˌlē How to pronounce areolae (audio) \ or areolas

Medical Definition of areola

: a small area between things or about something: as
a : the colored ring around the nipple or around a vesicle or pustule
b : the portion of the iris that borders the pupil of the eye

More from Merriam-Webster on areola

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about areola

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