Dictionary

aloe en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈæ.loʊ/ (General-American)
• /əˈləʊ.i/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈæ.ləʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Old English alwe (“fragrant resin of an East Indian tree”), from Latin aloē, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓λόη (ălóē), from Hebrew אָהָל (ʾāhāl) or related Aramaic forms, ultimately from Tamil அகில் (akil); reinforced in Middle English by Old French aloes.

Meanings

1. (in-plural) The resins of the tree Aquilaria malaccensis (syn. Aquilaria agallocha), known for their fragrant aroma, produced after infection by the fungus Phialophora parasitica.
2. Any plant of the large and variable genus Aloe.
   • '…you know how difficult it is to break yourself of a habit.' 'Yes,' said Cyril; 'Jane used to bite her nails.' 'But I broke myself of it,' urged Jane, rather hurt, 'You know I did.' 'Not till they put bitter aloes on them,' said Cyril. 1904, E. Nesbit, The Phoenix and the Carpet:
   • 1885 Ferdinand von Mueller: Select Extra-tropical Plants, Readily Eligible For Industrial Culture Or Naturalization. pub: Melbourne: J. Ferres Aloe ferox, Miller. South-Africa. This species yields the best Cape-aloes, as observed by Dr. Pappe. The simply inspissated juice of the leaves of the various species of the genus constitutes the aloe-drug. It is best obtained by using neither heat nor pressure for extracting the sap. By re-dissolving the aqueous part of Aloes in cold water, and reducing the liquid through boiling or other processes of exsiccation to dryness, the extract of aloes is prepared. The bitter sap, used for dressing wounds, keeps off flies very effectually. It deserves introduction particularly in veterinary practice.
3. Misnomer for any large, vaguely aloe-like plant, such as Agave.
   • In mercy I put a bullet through his skull, and he fell sprawling among the aloes. 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
4. A strong, bitter drink made from the juice of such plants, used as a purgative.

Forms

Deriveds

lignaloe · aloe-emodin · aloin · aloe vera · lign aloe · aloelike · xylaloe · American aloe · coral aloe

Descendants

aloe · aló

Relateds

agave · maguey

Translations (75)

es alcíbar (plant of the genus Aloe) · fi aaloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · af aalwyn (plant of the genus Aloe) · yue 蘆薈 /芦荟 (plant of the genus Aloe) · de Aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · xh ikhalana (plant of the genus Aloe) · ar أَلْوَة (plant of the genus Aloe) · eo aloo (plant of the genus Aloe) · cs aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · axm սապռ (plant of the genus Aloe) · sh алоја (plant of the genus Aloe) · sa घृतकुमारी (plant of the genus Aloe) · gd àloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · hi एलो (plant of the genus Aloe) · grc ἀλόη (plant of the genus Aloe) · hu aloé (plant of the genus Aloe) · nan-hbl 蘆薈 /芦荟 (plant of the genus Aloe) · ru ало́э (plant of the genus Aloe) · tl aksibal (plant of the genus Aloe) · la aloē (plant of the genus Aloe) · ga fóifíneach (plant of the genus Aloe) · bn মুসব্বর (plant of the genus Aloe) · vi nha đam (plant of the genus Aloe) · ar صَبْر (plant of the genus Aloe) · it aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · es áloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · io aloo (plant of the genus Aloe) · ryu 蘆薈 (plant of the genus Aloe) · es zábila (plant of the genus Aloe) · sa घृतकुमारिका (plant of the genus Aloe) · pt aloé (plant of the genus Aloe) · es sávila (plant of the genus Aloe) · el αλόη (plant of the genus Aloe) · cmn 蘆薈 /芦荟 (plant of the genus Aloe) · es lignáloe (desus.) (plant of the genus Aloe) · vo laoädaplan (plant of the genus Aloe) · pt azebre (plant of the genus Aloe) · fr aloès (plant of the genus Aloe) · es acíbar (plant of the genus Aloe) · es zabida (plant of the genus Aloe) · xcl հալուէ (plant of the genus Aloe) · ki kĩĩrũma (plant of the genus Aloe) · xh ikhala (plant of the genus Aloe) · ca àloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · ja アロエ (plant of the genus Aloe) · es aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · vi lô hội (plant of the genus Aloe) · es sábila (plant of the genus Aloe) · vo laoäd (plant of the genus Aloe) · nl aloë (plant of the genus Aloe) · sv aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · nrf aloé (plant of the genus Aloe) · et aaloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · es lináloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · af aalwee (plant of the genus Aloe) · ga aló (plant of the genus Aloe) · fa الوا (plant of the genus Aloe) · km យ៉ាដាំ (plant of the genus Aloe) · sh aloja (plant of the genus Aloe) · ko 알로에 (plant of the genus Aloe) · es zabila (plant of the genus Aloe) · gd àlas (plant of the genus Aloe) · ja 蘆薈 (plant of the genus Aloe) · es azabara (plant of the genus Aloe) · txb akaru (plant of the genus Aloe) · pl aloes (plant of the genus Aloe) · hi अलो (plant of the genus Aloe) · bg ало́е (plant of the genus Aloe) · hy հալվե (plant of the genus Aloe) · ro aloe (plant of the genus Aloe) · fa آلوا (plant of the genus Aloe) · rw igikakarubamba (plant of the genus Aloe) · uk алое (plant of the genus Aloe) · hy ալոե (plant of the genus Aloe) · pt aloés (plant of the genus Aloe)