Main Entry:

al·oe

Pronunciation:

\ˈa-(ˌ)lō\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Latin, dried juice of aloe leaves, from Greek aloē

Date:

before 12th century

1plural : the fragrant wood of an East Indian tree (Aquilaria agallocha) of the mezereon family2 a: any of a large genus (Aloe) of succulent chiefly southern African plants of the lily family with basal leaves and spicate flowers b: the dried juice of the leaves of various aloes used especially formerly as a purgative —usually used in plural but singular in construction c: aloe vera