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

At least some of them will be in polar orbits, not equatorial, in order to capture data at the poles, where the earth’s magnetic field channels charged particles from the ongoing solar wind, as well as more energetic events caused by coronal masse ejections or solar flares. —John Koetsier, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

The sun exhibits an 11-year cycle in its activity, which in 2014 was at its peak, when sunspots were common and these coronal loops arced above them. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 25 Oct. 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