[al.oe] n [ME, fr. LL, fr. L, dried juice of aloe leaves, fr. Gk aloe] (bef. 12c) 1 pl: the fragrant wood of an East Indian tree (Aquilaria agallocha) of the mezereon family
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 esp. formerly as a purgative--usu. used in pl. but sing. in constr.