The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. 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.
n. See aloe vera.
n. A laxative drug obtained from the processed juice of a certain species of aloe. Also called bitter aloes.
n. The resins of the trees Aquilaria agallocha and Aquilaria malaccensis, known for their fragrant odour
n. A plant of the genus Aloe.
n. A strong, bitter drink made from the juice of such plants, used as a purgative.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. The wood of the agalloch.
n. 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.
n. The inspissated juice of several species of aloe, used as a purgative.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. The common name of the plants of the genus Aloë.
n. A genus of liliaceous plants, including trees, shrubs, and a few perennial herbs, with thick fleshy leaves, usually spinosely toothed and rosulate at the summit of the caudex. See aloe.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in Africa
Word Usage
"There are many so-called aloe vera preparations on the market that contain very little of this precious herb."