aloe

noun

al·​oe ˈa-(ˌ)lō 

1

aloes plural : agarwood

2

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

Examples of aloe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The robust green plant was the centerpiece of a garden that includes smaller, greener elephant’s trunk agaves, spiny South African bitter aloe, and the Madagascan Aloe imalotensis. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026

The cleanser itself contains aloe and coconut oil, which will leave bristles soft and flexible. —Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026

These soothing drops contain 12 ingredients, including ginger, aloe, peppermint, chamomile and others. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026

Letting your aloe plant’s soil dry out between watering sessions is important too. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aloe

• aloe vera

Rhymes for aloe

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

aloe

noun

al·​oe ˈal-ō 

1

: any of a large genus of chiefly southern African plants related to lilies and having spikes of often showy flowers

2

: the dried bitter juice of the leaves of an aloe used especially formerly as a strong laxative and tonic

—usually used in plural

3

: aloe vera

Medical Definition

aloe

noun

al·​oe ˈal-(ˌ)ō 

1

capitalized : a large genus (family Asphodelaceae) of succulent chiefly southern African plants with basal leaves and spicate flowers

2

: a plant of the genus Aloe

3

: the dried juice of the leaves of various aloes used especially formerly as a purgative and tonic

—usually used in plural but singular in construction

4

: aloe vera sense 2