Alu, Ālu, Ā lǔ: 29 definitions
Introduction:
Alu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Ālu (आलु).—tad. affix in the sense 'तन्न (tanna) xxयते (yate)' e.g. शीतालुः, उष्णालुः (śītāluḥ, uṣṇāluḥ) P.V.2.122.

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Ālu (आलु) in Prakrit or Āluka in Sanskrit refers to taro (Arum colocasia). Today this word tends to be given the meaning of ‘potato’. This plant is classifed as ananta-kāya, or “plants that are inhabited by an infinite number of living organisms”, and therefore are abhakṣya (forbidden to consume) according to both Nemicandra (in his Pravacana-sāroddhāra v245-246) and Hemacandra (in his Yogaśāstra 3.44-46). Those plants which are classified as ananta-kāyas (e.g., ālu) seem to be chosen because of certain morphological peculiarities such as the possession of bulbs or rhizomes orthe habit of periodically shedding their leaves; and in general theyare characterized by possibilities of vegetative reproduction.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Aḻu.—(SITI), Tamil; a variety of market dues; probably, the same as aḻḻu and aḻḻāya-mānyam. Note: aḻu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
Alu [अळू] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Meyna laxiflora from the Rubiaceae (Coffee) family having the following synonyms: Vangueria spinosa. For the possible medicinal usage of alu, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Alu [आलू] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Solanum tuberosum Solanum tuberosum L. from the Solanaceae (potato) family.
Alu [ꯑꯂꯨ] in the Manipuri language, ibid. previous identification.
Alu [ಆಲೂ, ಆಲು] in the Kannada language, ibid. previous identification.
Alu [आळू] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott from the Araceae (Arum) family having the following synonyms: Alocasia illustris, Alocasia dussii.
Alu in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Dinebra retroflexa (Vahl) Panz. from the Poaceae (Grass) family having the following synonyms: Cynosurus retroflexus, Dinebra paspaloides.
1) Alu in India is the name of a plant defined with Acacia catechu in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Acacia catechuoides Benth. (among others).
2) Alu is also identified with Alocasia cucullata It has the synonym Caladium colocasia Schott ex Wight (etc.).
3) Alu is also identified with Alocasia macrorrhizos It has the synonym Arum macrorrhizum L. (etc.).
4) Alu is also identified with Amorphophallus paeoniifolius It has the synonym Arum rumphii Oken (etc.).
5) Alu is also identified with Colocasia esculenta It has the synonym Caladium colocasioides (Desf.) Brongn. (etc.).
6) Alu is also identified with Helianthus tuberosus It has the synonym Helianthus esculentus Warsz. (etc.).
7) Alu is also identified with Meyna laxiflora It has the synonym Vangueria spinosa Roxb..
8) Alu is also identified with Meyna spinosa It has the synonym Vangueria mollis Wall., nom. nud. (etc.).
9) Alu is also identified with Paspalum scrobiculatum It has the synonym Paspalum virgatum Walter, nom. illeg., non Paspalum virgatum L. (etc.).
10) Alu is also identified with Solanum tuberosum It has the synonym Solanum andigenum subsp. ecuatorianum Lechn. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Fl. Indo-Chine (1924)
· Flora of the British India (1880)
· Flora of Tropical Africa (1920)
· Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information Kew (1928)
· Kew Bulletin (1985)
· Gardener’s chronicle (1885)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Alu, for example pregnancy safety, side effects, health benefits, diet and recipes, chemical composition, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
1) Aalu in India is the name of a plant defined with Alocasia macrorrhizos in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Colocasia mucronata (Lam.) Kunth (among others).
2) Aalu is also identified with Solanum tuberosum It has the synonym Solanum goniocalyx Juz. & Buk. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Euphytica (1980)
· Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden (1973)
· Trudy po Prikladnoj Botanike i Selekktsii (1934)
· Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (1958)
· Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (2011)
· Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (1810)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Aalu, for example pregnancy safety, side effects, health benefits, diet and recipes, chemical composition, extract dosage, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
ālu : (nt.) edible root or bulb; yam.
Ālu, (nt.) (Sk. ālu & °ka; cognate with Lat. ālum & alium, see Walde Lat. Wtb. under alium) a bulbous plant, Radix Globosa Esculenta or Amorphophallus (Kern), Arum Campanulatum (Hardy) J.IV, 371 = VI, 578; IV, 373. (Page 109)
ālu (အာလု) [(pu,na) (ပု၊န)]—
[ā+lu+u. vi,pi,. ala+ṇu]
[အာ+လု+ဥ။ ဝိ၊ပိ၊ဓာန်။ အလ+ဏု]
[Pali to Burmese]
ālu—
(Burmese text): အာလူး။
(Auto-Translation): Potato.

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
aḷū (अळू).—m A tree and its fruit. Its fruit is sweetish and of the color of snuff. 2 A vegetable. Arum campanulatum. Sykes. Also Calladium esc. In the Konkan the form is aḷūṃ.
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ālu (आलु).—m S An esculent root, Arum campanulatum. Applied also to the yam, potato &c.
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ālū (आलू).—m ālūbōkhāra m ( P) Prunes from Bukhara, Persian prunes.
ālu (आलु).—m An esculent root.
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ālū (आलू).—m ālūbōkhāra m Prunes from Bu- khara, Persian prunes.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Alu (अलु).—[al-un] A small water pot.
Derivable forms: aluḥ (अलुः).
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Ālu (आलु).—
1) An owl.
2) An esculent root (not applied to potato &c.).
3) Ebony; black ebony.
-luḥ f. A pitcher, waterjar.
-lu n. A raft, float.
Derivable forms: āluḥ (आलुः).
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Ālū (आलू).—See आलु (ālu).
Ālu (आलु).—m. (or f.; Sanskrit Lex. nt., and Sanskrit āluka, nt.; Pali ālu, nt. according to [Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary]; but AMg. ālu, m. according to Rat- nach., Prakrit m. and nt. according to [Paia-sadda-mahaṇṇavo]), a certain edible tuber: Mahāvyutpatti 5730 āluḥ.
Alu (अलु).—f.
(-luḥ) A small water pot. E. ṛ to go, and uc affix, ra becomes la; also ālu.
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Ālu (आलु).—f.
(-luḥ) A pitcheer, a small water jar. mn. (-luḥ-lu) 1. An esculent root, (Arum campanulatum:) in the modern dialects this name is applied to the yam, potatoe, &c. 2. A raft, a float. m.
(-luḥ) An owl. E. ṛ to go, and uṇ affix, āru what goes, (in the earth, water, &c.) the initial is lengthened, and ra is changed to la.
Ālu (आलु).—n. A vessel, [Hitopadeśa] iii. [distich] 52.
Ālu (आलु).—[feminine] a small water-jar; [neuter] raft, float.
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Ālū (आलू).—[feminine] a small water-jar; [neuter] raft, float.
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Ālū (आलू).—tear or pluck off.
Ālū is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ā and lū (लू).
1) Alu (अलु):—f. (= ālu q.v.) a small water-pot, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) Ālu (आलु):—m. (√ṛ [commentator or commentary] on [Uṇādi-sūtra i, 5]), an owl, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) ebony, black ebony, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) f. (us) a pitcher, a small water-jar, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) Ālū (आलू):—[from ālu] a f. (ūs) a pitcher, a small water-jar, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) Ālu (आलु):—n. a raft, a float
7) an esculent root, Arum Campanulatum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) (in modern dialects applied to the yam, potato etc.)
9) Ālū (आलू):—[=ā-√lū] b [Parasmaipada] -lunāti, to cut, cut off;
—to pluck off.
1) Alu (अलु):—(luḥ) 2. f. Small water-pot.
2) Ālu (आलु):—(luḥ) 2. f. A pitcher. m. An owl. n. An esculent root, yam; raft.
[Sanskrit to German]
Ālu (आलु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ālu.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Ālū (आलू) [Also spelled aalu]:—(nm) potato; ~[dama] see [dama ālū].
Aalu in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) potato; ~[dama] see [dama alu]..—aalu (आलू) is alternatively transliterated as Ālū.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Ālu (आलु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Ālu.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Aḷu (ಅಳು):—
1) [verb] to shed tears; to weep with or without vocal sound or utterance.
2) [verb] ಅಳದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅಮ್ಮನೂ ಹಾಲುಣಿಸಳು [aladiddare ammanu halunisalu] aḷadiddare ammanū hāluṇisaḷu (prov.) even to get what one deserves, one has to make hue and cry; ಅಳುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕೈಗೆ ಬೆಲ್ಲ ಕೊಡು [aluva makkala kaige bella kodu] aḷuva makkaḷa kaige bella koḍu (prov.) (to avoid a person making a hue and cry about bigger current demand) pacify with a small gift; ಅಳುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕಣ್ಣು ಒರಸು [aluva makkala kannu orasu] aḷuva makkaḷa kaṇṇu oresu (prov.) to show hypocritical sympathy; to pretend to be sympathetic.
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Aḷu (ಅಳು):—
1) [noun] a fit of weeping, shedding tears.
2) [noun] a loud vocal sound expressing pain; a cry.
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Aḷu (ಅಳು):—[noun] a kind of tax levied, not in practice now.
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Ālu (ಆಲು):—[verb] to shout aloud.
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Ālu (ಆಲು):—[noun] a small vessel; a small water pot.
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Ālu (ಆಲು):—
1) [noun] the plant Solanum tuberosum of Solanaceae family; potato plant.
2) [noun] its starchy, brown-skinned tuber used as a vegetable; potato.
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Āḷu (ಆಳು):—
1) [verb] to exercise authority over; to rule; to administer; to direct; to control; to manage, to govern.
2) [verb] to obtain; to get; to have; to posses.
3) [verb] to enjoy; to use with delight and satisfaction.
4) [verb] to protect; to faster; to take care of.
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Āḷu (ಆಳು):—
1) [verb] to go under the surface of a liquid; to plunge or sink oneself in to water etc.
2) [verb] to be engaged or absorbed (as in a work, sorrow, etc.) 3) to be or go within.
3) [verb] to cause to drown.
4) [verb] to fall losing one’s strength; to collapse.
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Āḷu (ಆಳು):—
1) [noun] a human being; a woman or a man.
2) [noun] (gen.) a man.
3) [noun] a man of capacity; a capable man; a manly person.
4) [noun] a soldier.
5) [noun] a member of that branch of an army consisting of soldiers trained and equipped to fight chiefly on foot; a foot-soldier.
6) [noun] a disciple.
7) [noun] a person employed to perform services, esp. household duties, for another; a servant.
8) [noun] a chess piece of the lowest value which can be moved only forward and one square at a time (or two squares on its first move), and which captures with a diagonal move; a pawn.
9) [noun] a measure of depth or height, varying from five feet to six feet.
10) [noun] ಆಳು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಆಕಾರ, ಬಾಳು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಬಾಯಿಬಡಿದುಕೋ ಬೇಕು [alu nodidare akara, balu nodidare bayibadiduko beku] āḷu nōḍidre ākāra, bāḷu nōḍidare bāyi baḍidukō bēku (said of a person) outwardly impressive, while inwardly useless; the appearance veils the essence; fat hens lay few eggs; ಆಳಾಗಬಲ್ಲವ ಅರಸಾಗಬಲ್ಲ [alagaballava arasagaballa] āḷāga ballava arasāgaballa he who can work hard himself, may manage to get the work done too; he who cannot be a servant of many, will never be a master; ಆಳುಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಹಾಳು, ತಾನು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು ಉತ್ತಮ [alumadiddu halu, tanu madiddu uttama] āḷu māḍiddu hāḷu, tānu māḍiddu uttama self-done is well done; depending on others for one’s work to be done, is dangerous; ಆಳುದ್ದ ಭಾವಿಗೆ ಗೇಣುದ್ದ ಹಗ್ಗ [aludda bhavige genudda hagga] āḷudda bhāvige gēṇudda hagga to work with insufficient means; to put a shark in a swimming pool.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Alu (அலு) [aluttal] 11 intransitive verb < அல-. [ala-.] [Telugu: alayu, K. ala.] To be weary, fatigued, tired, by overwork or care; சோர்தல். [sorthal.] (தேவாரம் [thevaram] 946, 8.)
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Aḻu (அழு) [aḻutal] 1 intransitive verb [Telugu: aḍalu, Kanarese, Malayalam: aḻu, Travancore usage arpini.]
1. To cry, weep; கண் ணீர்விடுதல். [kan nirviduthal.] (திருக்குறள் [thirukkural], 659.)
2. To cry aloud, lament; புலம்பிக் கதறுதல். [pulambig katharuthal.]
3. To whine; சிணுங் குதல். [sinung kuthal.]
4. To crave; வருந்துதல். குடல் கூழுக் கழக் கொண்டை பூவுக் கழுகிறதா [varunthuthal. kudal kuzhug kazhag kondai puvug kazhugiratha]?
5. To waste, spend uselessly; வீணுக்குச் செலவுசெய்தல். உனக் கெவ்வளவுதான் அழுகிறது. [vinukkus selavuseythal. unag kevvalavuthan azhugirathu.] Colloq.
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Ālu (ஆலு) [ālutal] 5 intransitive verb [K. āl.]
1. To sound, make noise, cry aloud; ஒலித்தல். அன்னச் சேவல் மாறெழுந்தாலும் [olithal. annas seval marezhunthalum] (புறநானூறு [purananuru] 128, 4).
2. To rejoice; களித்தல். [kalithal.] (நாலாயிர திவ்யப்பிரபந்தம் திருமாலை [nalayira thivyappirapandam thirumalai], 14, வ்யாக். [vyag.]).
3. To dance; ஆடுதல். கரைநின் றாலு மொருமயி றனக்கு [aduthal. karainin ralu morumayi ranakku] (மணிமேகலை [manimegalai]
4. 11).
4. To abide; தங்குதல். [thanguthal.] (கலித்தொகை [kalithogai] 36, 2, உரை. [urai.])
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Nepali dictionary
Ālu (आलु):—n. Bot. potato; potato plant/its fruit;
Aalu is another spelling for आलु [ālu].—n. Bot. potato; potato plant/its fruit;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+21): Aalu-tachhnu, Alu-bukhara, Alu-khanu, Alu-pila, Alu-sundi, Alu-tachnu, Alu-vilipucal, Alua rangar kukura, Aluala, Alubakhada, Alubbhana, Alubbhanaka, Alubbhanakara, Alubbhita, Alubbhitatta, Alubdha, Alubdhatva, Alubene, Alubh, Alubhashe.
Full-text (+251): Dayalu, Lajjalu, Khandakalu, Madhvalu, Alukanni, Dhajalu, Abhijjhalu, Apihalu, Tanhaluka, Phataki, Svaralu, Alu-khanu, Alu-vilipucal, Saurashtri, Alu-tachnu, Alumunci, Sphata, Aluka, Taluma-alu-phalnu, Alukallan.
Relevant text
Search found 76 books and stories containing Alu, Ālū, Alū, Aḷū, Ālu, Aḻu, A-lu, Ā-lū, Aḷu, Āḷu, Aalu, Azhu, A-lu-u, Ā-lu-u, 阿魯, Ā lǔ, Ālǔ; (plurals include: Alus, Ālūs, Alūs, Aḷūs, Ālus, Aḻus, lus, lūs, Aḷus, Āḷus, Aalus, Azhus, us, Ā lǔs, Ālǔs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 56 < [Tamil-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 91 < [Kannada-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 43 < [Tamil-English-Bengali (1 volume)]
Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine
Commonly used Medicinal Plants in Tehsil Bangana, District Una, Himachal Pradesh < [Volume 3, Issue 2: April–June (2017)]
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Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Part 2 - Sutra of the Seven Buddhas < [Agama Section (Volume 1-2)]
Scroll 12c - The Mahasamaya-sutta < [Part 1 - Long Discourses]
Scroll 19 - The Sixteen Hells in Buddhist Cosmology < [Part 1 - Long Discourses]
South-Indian Horizons (by Jean-Luc Chevillard)
Chapter 1 - Prolegomena to an Etymological Dictionary to the Iṟula Language < [Section 2 - Studies in Language and History of Language Description]
Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)
Pasuram 6.2.11 < [Section 2 - Second Tiruvaymoli (Min itai matavarkal)]
Pasuram 4.4.4 < [Section 4 - Fourth Tiruvaymoli (Mannai iruntu tulavi)]
Pasuram 10.3.1 < [Section 3 - Third Tiruvaymoli (Vey maru tol inai)]
Variation of Physico-Chemical Properties among Different Soil Orders under... < [Volume 15, Issue 6 (2023)]
Dynamic Evolution of Regional Discrepancies in Carbon Emissions from... < [Volume 10, Issue 2 (2018)]
Temperate Agroforestry Development: The Case of Québec and of France < [Volume 12, Issue 17 (2020)]
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