aloe

(al′ō′; for 1 al′ō ē′, al′ō′)

noun pl. aloes

any of a large genus (Aloe) of plants of the lily family, native to Africa, with fleshy leaves that are spiny along the edge and with drooping clusters of tubular, red or yellow flowers
a bitter, laxative drug made from the juice of certain aloe leaves
the aromatic heartwood of several trees of a genus (Aquilaria) of the mezereum family, native to the East Indies and Southeast Asia

Origin: ME < L < Gr aloē < ? Heb ahalim, pl. of ahal, aloe wood < Sans agaru

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See aloe in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various chiefly African plants of the genus Aloe, having rosettes of succulent, often spiny-margined leaves and long stalks bearing yellow, orange, or red tubular flowers.
See aloe vera.
aloes (used with a sing. verb) A laxative drug obtained from the processed juice of a certain species of aloe. Also called bitter aloes.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English aluwe

Origin: , from Latin aloē

Origin: , from Greek

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