coronal

1 of 2

noun

cor·​o·​nal ˈkȯr-ə-nᵊl 

ˈkär-

variants or less commonly coronel

: a circlet for the head usually implying rank or dignity

coronal

2 of 2

adjective

co·​ro·​nal ˈkȯr-ə-nᵊl 

ˈkär-;

kə-ˈrō- 

1

a

: lying in the direction of the coronal suture

b

: of or relating to the frontal plane that passes through the long axis of the body

2

: of or relating to a corona or crown

Synonyms

Noun

• chaplet
• coronet
• crown
• diadem

Examples of coronal in a Sentence

Noun

a Renaissance portrait of a nobel woman of Florence wearing a bejeweled coronal

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The dramatic coronal headpiece was meant to evoke the Virgin Mary. —New York Times, 8 May 2018

Adjective

The sunspot experienced a series of flares and coronal ejections that sprayed the solar system with high-energy particles. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 14 May 2024

Scientists suspect that magnetic reconnection superheats the coronal plasma, and small-scale phenomena such as the jetlets or related phenomena called nano flares might play a role. —Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English coronal, borrowed from Anglo-French coronel, corinal, probably borrowed from Medieval Latin corōnāle, noun derivative from neuter of Latin corōnālis "of a wreath or garland" — more at coronal entry 2

Adjective

Middle English coronale, borrowed from Medieval Latin corōnālis "of the forehead or crown of the head," going back to Latin, "of a wreath or garland," from corōna "garland worn on the head as a mark of honor or emblem of majesty, halo around a celestial body" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at crown entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing coronal

• coronal mass ejection
• coronal suture

Medical Definition

coronal

adjective

co·​ro·​nal ˈkȯr-ən-ᵊl  ˈkär-; kə-ˈrōn- 

1

: of, relating to, or being a corona

2

: lying in the direction of the coronal suture

3

: of or relating to the frontal plane that passes through the long axis of the body