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• gumbo
  gumbo

  noun

  a stew or thick soup, usually made with chicken or seafood, greens, and okra or sometimes filé as a thickener.
• Gumbo
  Gumbo

  noun

  a French patois spoken by Black and Creole people in Louisiana and the French West Indies.

gumbo

¹ American  

[guhm-boh] / ˈgʌm boʊ /

noun

plural

gumbos

1. a stew or thick soup, usually made with chicken or seafood, greens, and okra or sometimes filé as a thickener.

2. okra.

3. soil that becomes sticky and nonporous when wet.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or like gumbo.

Gumbo ² American  

[guhm-boh] / ˈgʌm boʊ /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a French patois spoken by Black and Creole people in Louisiana and the French West Indies.

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gumbo ¹ British  

/ ˈɡʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. the mucilaginous pods of okra

2. another name for okra

3. a soup or stew thickened with okra pods

4. a fine soil in the W prairies that becomes muddy when wet

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Gumbo ² British  

/ ˈɡʌmbəʊ /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) a French patois spoken by Creoles in Louisiana and the Caribbean

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Etymology

Origin of gumbo¹

1795–1805, < Louisiana French gombo, gumbo < a Bantu language; compare Umbundu ochinggombo, Luba chinggombo okra

Origin of Gumbo²

First recorded in 1835–40; probably from the same source as gumbo ( def. )

Explanation

Gumbo is a Louisiana Creole stew that's thick and spicy, usually containing shellfish and sausage and served over rice. When you're visiting New Orleans, you should definitely try some gumbo. One of gumbo's traditional thickeners is the vegetable called okra, which is sometimes also called gumbo, from the Angolan word kingombo. The ingredients of an authentic gumbo can vary a lot, though it almost always starts with celery, onions, and peppers and flavorful stock. From there, it needs a thickener (either a roux or cooked okra), spices, and meat or shellfish. Gumbo is the official food of the state of Louisiana.

Example Sentences

“We are getting into a match with both legs tied,” said CCC lawyer Agency Gumbo.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023

Because Gumbo is a special at Kitchen on Main, Dorothy and MaRanda choose a time when they can both devote an entire day to making it together.

From Salon • May 18, 2023

Try the grilled artichoke and Louisiana Gumbo and a wine from a fabulous cellar, accompanied by piano serenades from sommelier, chef and co-owner Jim O’Meally.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2023

My cat Gumbo died and, a few hours later, Savana had written the song.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2021

Gumbo lumbered in right after, leaving a trail of wet spots across the floor.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• bouillon
• chowder
• porridge
• puree