bok choy

or bok-choy

[ bok-choi ]

/ ˈbɒk ˈtʃɔɪ /

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noun

a type of Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa chinensis, with long, broad, dark green leaves and pale stalks that form a cluster rather than a head, grown throughout East Asia and cultivated elsewhere, especially northern Europe, as the plant can withstand a cold climate.

the leaves and stalks of this plant eaten as a raw or cooked vegetable, especially in East Asian cuisine.

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Also called pak-choi

[bok-choi] /ˈbɒk ˈtʃɔɪ/ .

Origin of bok choy

First recorded in 1845–50; from Chinese dialect (Guangdong) baahk-chòi, literally, “white vegetable,” akin to Chinese báicài

Words nearby bok choy

Boito, Bojardo, Bojer, Bok, Bokassa I, bok choy, boke, bokeh, Bok globule, Bokhara, Bokhara clover

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bok choy in a sentence

You can’t eat fruits and veggies you like, such as tomatoes or beets or bok choy, but raw kale is fine because it tastes like crepe paper.
Gene Weingarten: Behold, the worst diet of all time|Gene Weingarten|April 15, 2021|Washington Post
I love the sweetness of bok choy and how it remains juicy thanks to its thick stems, even after it’s been roasted, steamed or sauteed.
Cabbage is always there for you. Here’s how to give it the respect it deserves.|Aaron Hutcherson|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
"Ashley and I are thrilled with our Fall 2013 Bik Bok collaboration," Mary-Kate states on the company's website.
John Galliano in Talks With Oscar de la Renta; Kate Upton Felt Terrible About Swimsuit Cover|The Fashion Beast Team|August 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Beyond the basil, which is sold in Whole Foods, we have kale and chard and bok choy and bell peppers.
Dylan Ratigan Unplugged: Ex-MSNBC Host Turns Hydroponic Entrepreneur|Daniel Gross|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The entrée was smoked flat-iron beef with caramelized mint fennel, kabocha pumpkin, yellow cauliflower, and baby bok choy.
My Night at the Golden Globe Awards|Ramin Setoodeh|January 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Cauliflower is delicious, potatoes can be good, and I've been thinking about experimenting with bok choy stems.
Your Friday Gadget Chef Recipe: Two Day Soup|Megan McArdle|November 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In a bowl, toss the scallions and ginger with the bok choy sections.
Fresh Picks|Nina Simonds|April 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Bok also signifies acupictile, vel acupictum (velum, auloeum).
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson|Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson
Literally beech- (book-) runes, from being used for book writing or graving on thin leaves of beech (bok), whence our book.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson|Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson
Emerging from behind a clump, three fine, plump spring-bok were seen browsing on the young grass just within one hundred yards.
Stanley's Adventures in the Wilds of Africa|Joel Tyler Headley and William Fletcher Johnson
And when I face the tyrant Death, may Bok be with me in the gloom, to decorate my final breath, with tassels and an ostrich plume.
Uncle Walt [Walt Mason]|Walt Mason
I owe so much to Mr. Bok that language fails me when I try about his kindnesses to talk, and briny tears bedim my eye.
Uncle Walt [Walt Mason]|Walt Mason

British Dictionary definitions for bok choy

bok choy

/ (ˈbɒk ˈtʃɔɪ) /

noun

a Chinese plant, Brassica chinensis, that is related to the cabbage and has edible stalks and leavesAlso called: Chinese cabbage, Chinese leaf, pak-choi cabbage

Word Origin for bok choy

from Chinese dialect, literally: white vegetable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012