okra

[ oh-kruh ]

noun

1. a shrub, Abelmoschus esculentus, of the mallow family, bearing beaked pods.
2. the pods, used in soups, stews, etc.
3. a dish made with the pods.

okra

/ ˈəʊkrə /

noun

1. Also calledladies' fingers an annual malvaceous plant, Hibiscus esculentus, of the Old World tropics, with yellow-and-red flowers and edible oblong sticky green pods
2. the pod of this plant, eaten in soups, stews, etc See also gumbo

Word History and Origins

Origin of okra¹

First recorded in 1670–80; said to be of West African origin, though precise source unknown; compare Igbo ókùrù okra

Word History and Origins

Origin of okra¹

C18: of W African origin

Example Sentences

The 11 ingredients in the book — beans, calabaza, cassava, chayote, coconut, cornmeal, okra, plantains, rice, salted cod and scotch bonnet peppers — are all inherently Caribbean ingredients.

From Salon

Others, like okra and rice, were staples in Africa before the enslaved were brought to the islands.

From Salon

He prefers Mr. Trump because in 2019 the Trump administration helped him resolve an administrative error that allowed his family to reclaim the deed for the farm, which once grew butter beans, purple hull peas and okra.

From New York Times

Many locals though put their fertility down to a dish called "ilasa", made from okra leaves.

From BBC

In some cases, farmers might rotate between seeding a field with corn one year, then beans the next and okra the year after.

From Science Daily