noun
chiefly tropical and xerophytic plants: includes Dracenaceae (Dracaenaceae); comprises plants that in some classifications are divided between the Amaryllidaceae and the Liliaceae
• Syn: ↑family Agavaceae, ↑agave family, ↑sisal family
• Hypernyms: ↑liliid monocot family
• Member Holonyms: ↑Liliales, ↑order Liliales
• Member Meronyms:
↑agave, ↑century plant, ↑American aloe, ↑genus Agave, ↑Cordyline, ↑genus Cordyline, ↑Dracenaceae, ↑subfamily Dracenaceae, ↑Dracaenaceae, ↑subfamily Dracaenaceae, ↑genus Dracaena, ↑Nolina, ↑genus Nolina, ↑Polianthes, ↑genus Polianthes, ↑genus Sansevieria, ↑genus Yucca
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\\ˌagəˈvāsēˌē\ noun pluralUsage: capitalized
in some classifications : a family of the order Liliales that comprises chiefly tropical and xerophytic plants with fibrous linear leaves arranged in a basal rosette, rhizomatous rootstock, and usually with flowers in large panicles, that includes species usually divided between the families Liliaceae and Amaryllidaceae, and that has as its type the genus Agave
Useful english dictionary. 2012.