aloe
UK[ˈæləʊi]US[ˈæloʊ]
n
a plant with thick pointed leaves and bitter juice, used in medicines and cosmetics
n
a substance obtained from the leaves of this plant, used to soothe skin
Etymology
the word 'aloe' has a long and winding etymological journey, entering modern english from latin. latin borrowed it from greek 'alóē', which itself was likely adopted from a semitic source, such as hebrew 'ʾăhālîm' or arabic 'ʾalluwa'. the ultimate origin may trace back to a dravidian language of the indian subcontinent, reflecting the plant's ancient trade routes. the core semantic thread from its earliest known uses consistently refers to the succulent plant and its aromatic resin or bitter juice, a meaning preserved perfectly in english today.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within modern english spelling.
Examples
she applied aloe to her sunburn for its cooling effect.
the aloe vera plant is commonly kept as a houseplant.
many skincare products contain extracts of aloe.