areola

noun

are·​o·​la ə-ˈrē-ə-lə  ˌer-ē-ˈō- 

ˌa-rē-

plural areolae ə-ˈrē-ə-ˌlē 

ˌer-ē-ˈō-ˌlē,

ˌa-rē-

or areolas

: a small area between things or about something

especially : a colored ring (as about the nipple, a vesicle, or a pustule)

areolar

ə-ˈrē-ə-lər 

adjective

areolate

ə-ˈrē-ə-lət 

adjective

Examples of areola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Puffy nipples occur when one or both nipples and the surrounding areola are swollen or enlarged. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 21 Sep. 2025

Her entire front body is exposed and her natural breasts are round, perky; her pink areolas, small; her pink nipples, delicate, conical. —Weike Wang, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

According to a study published in the 2018 Aesthetic Surgery Journal, researchers found that the average diameter of a male areola is about 26.6 millimeters, or 2.7 centimeters. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 July 2025

The nipple and areola work would, indeed, cycle through with all the rest. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for areola

• amygdala
• allah
• bala
• cala
• cholla
• mala
• sala
• scala
• cabala
• corolla
• impala
• kabbalah

Kids Definition

areola

noun

are·​o·​la ə-ˈrē-ə-lə 

plural areolae -ˌlē  or areolas

: a colored ring (as about the nipple)

areolar

-lər 

adjective

Medical Definition

areola

noun

are·​o·​la ə-ˈrē-ə-lə 

plural areolae -ˌlē  or areolas

: 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