areolar
|a-re-o-lar|
🇺🇸
/ˌɛriˈoʊlər/
🇬🇧
/ˌeəriˈəʊlə/
small ring or small open space; netlike
Etymology
'areolar' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'areola', where 'areola' was a diminutive of 'area' and meant 'small open space' or 'small area'.
'areolar' came into English via New/Modern Latin 'areola' (a diminutive of Latin 'area'), and the adjective was formed in English (or scientific Latin) as 'areolar' to mean 'of or pertaining to an areola'.
Initially it referred to a 'small open space' (the diminutive sense of 'area'); over time it evolved into the anatomical and histological senses of 'pertaining to an areola' or 'having small open spaces/mesh-like structure'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of loose connective tissue (areolar tissue) composed of a meshwork of fibers and cells with abundant intercellular spaces; commonly called areolar connective tissue in anatomy.
Areolar is found beneath the skin, binding it to underlying structures while allowing movement.
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Adjective 1
relating to or of an areola; situated in or forming an areola (often used of the pigmented ring around the nipple).
The surgeon inspected the areolar tissue surrounding the nipple.
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Adjective 2
having or made up of small open spaces or pits; netlike or reticulate in structure (used in histology and botany to describe a porous, lattice-like arrangement).
Under the microscope the sample showed areolar connective patterns with many intercellular spaces.
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Last updated: 2025/10/11 02:04