agave

UK: /əˈɡeɪvɪ/, /əˈɡeɪvi/

US: /əˈgɑvi, əˈgeɪ-/

US: (ə gä′vē, ə gā′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•ga•ve /əˈgɑvi, əˈgeɪ-/   n. [uncountable* countable]

1. a desert plant having a single tall flower stalk and thick leaves, used for its fibers.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

a•ga•ve  (ə gä′vē, ə gā′-), n. 

1. Plant Biology any of numerous American plants belonging to the genus Agave, of the agave family, species of which are cultivated for economic or ornamental purposes:
   A. arizonica,
   of central Arizona, is an endangered species.

• Greek agaué̄, feminine of agauós noble, brilliant
• Neo-Latin (Linnaeus)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

agave / əˈɡeɪvɪ ˈæɡeɪv/ noun

1. any plant of the genus Agave, native to tropical America, with tall flower stalks rising from a massive, often armed, rosette of thick fleshy leaves: family Agavaceae. Some species are the source of fibres such as sisal or of alcoholic beverages such as pulque and tequila
   See also century plant

Etymology: 18th Century: New Latin, from Greek agauē, feminine of agauos illustrious, probably alluding to the height of the plant