agave

American  

[uh-gah-vee, uh-gey-] / əˈgɑ vi, əˈgeɪ- /

noun

1. 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.

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agave British  

/ ˈæɡeɪv, əˈɡeɪvɪ /

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

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Etymology

Origin of agave

< New Latin (Linnaeus) < Greek agauḗ, feminine of agauós noble, brilliant

Compare meaning

How does agave compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• blue agave vs. agave
• maguey vs. agave

Example Sentences

Another option would be trying maple syrup, honey or agave in place of the sugar, which would round out the flavor a bit more.

From Salon

But don’t overlook honey, agave, white sugar, maple syrup or even sorghum if you want something with a bit more edge.

From Salon

Teuchitlán is a bustling agricultural hub of 40,000 near the touristy “tequila route,” a road lined with expanses of sugar cane and agave, the spiky plant that yields tequila.

From Los Angeles Times

More immediately, they will affect Mexican beer and tequila; the latter can be only produced from blue agave plants in the state of Jalisco and a handful of other swaths of Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times

Their forbidden union incurred the wrath of Mayahuel's grandmother, who destroyed the lovers after they transformed into an agave plant.

From Salon