Au-rē'ō-lă or Au're-ōle, n.

n. [Fr. auréole, from Lat. aureolus, of gold, a dim. of aureus. See AURE'ATE.] The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround the body of Christ, saints, and others held in special reverence.

When limited to the head only, it is usually termed a nimbus; when it envelops the whole body, an aureola. Fairholt.