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

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

West African gumbo tends to be made with way, way more okra and, instead of relying on a roux or mirepoix to impart flavor, it contains dried fish powder, shrimp powder and “heavy-duty spices.”

From Salon

He brought with him his own donation to the food bank, a basket of food of cultural importance to Jamaicans, but sometimes hard to buy in the UK, including okra, yams and dragon fruit.

From BBC