aloe Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in Africa

L. aloë, Gr. , aloe: cf. OF. aloe, F. aloès.

plural Aloes

pl. The wood of the agalloch. Obs. Wyclif.
(Bot.) A genus of succulent plants, some classed as trees, others as shrubs, but the greater number having the habit and appearance of evergreen herbaceous plants; from some of which are prepared articles for medicine and the arts. They are natives of warm countries.
pl. (Med.) The inspissated juice of several species of aloe, used as a purgative. Plural in form but syntactically singular.