[uh-gah-vee, uh-gey-] 
| 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. |
, fem. of agauós noble, brilliant
| a·ga·ve (ə-gä'vē, ə-gā'-) n. Any of numerous plants of the genus Agave, native to hot, dry regions of the New World and having basal rosettes of tough, sword-shaped, often spiny-margined leaves. Agaves are grown for ornament, fiber, and food. Also called century plant. [New Latin Agavē, genus name, from Greek agauē, feminine of agauos, noble.] |