Areole vs. Areola — What's the Difference?

In botany, areoles are small light- to dark-colored bumps on cacti out of which grow clusters of spines. Areoles are important diagnostic features of cacti, and identify them as a family distinct from other succulent plants.

The human areola (areola mammae, or ) is the pigmented area on the breast around the nipple. Areola, more generally, is a small circular area on the body with a different histology from the surrounding tissue, or other small circular areas such as an inflamed region of skin.

A small, specialized, cushionlike area on a cactus from which hairs, glochids, spines, branches, or flowers may arise.

A small circular area, in particular the ring of pigmented skin surrounding a nipple.

See areola.

A small ring of color around a center portion, as about the nipple of the breast or the part of the iris surrounding the pupil of the eye.

(botany) The smallest enclosures created by the veins of a leaf.

A small space or interstice in a tissue or part, such as the area bounded by small veins in a leaf or the wing of an insect. In both senses also called areole.

(botany) Bump on a cactus out of which grow clusters of spines.

(anatomy) The colored circle around a nipple, more exactly known as areola mammae.

(mycology) A tessellation in the thallus of certain lichens.

Any small circular area that is different from its immediate environment, such as the colored ring around the pupil of the eye (iris) or an inflamed region surrounding a pimple.

(anatomy) An areola.

(anatomy) Any of the small spaces throughout areolar connective tissue.

Same as Areola.

An interstice or small space, as between the cracks of the surface in certain crustaceous lichens; or as between the fibers composing organs or vessels that interlace; or as between the nervures of an insect's wing.

The colored ring around the nipple, or around a vesicle or pustule.

Small space in a tissue or part such as the area between veins on a leaf or an insect's wing

Small circular area such as that around the human nipple or an inflamed area around a pimple or insect bite