okra

[ oh-kruh ]

/ ˈoʊ krə /

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noun

a shrub, Abelmoschus esculentus, of the mallow family, bearing beaked pods.

the pods, used in soups, stews, etc.

a dish made with the pods.

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Also called gumbo.

Origin of okra

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

Words nearby okra

Oklahoman, okle-dokle, Okmulgee, okoume, Okovango, okra, Okri, okta, Oktoberfest, Okuninushi, OL

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

How to use okra in a sentence

What prompted a lot of that was making trips home and getting bags full of okra, heirloom tomatoes to bring back.
For Gabrielle E.W. Carter, cooking is about the culture — and how to preserve it|Aaron Hutcherson|October 7, 2021|Washington Post
Moral of the story here is that if your version of a healthy diet consists of fresh veggies and grains, but you’re worried you won’t be able to eat it all before it goes bad, go with pre-cooked quinoa or okra crisps.
How to eat sustainably without sacrificing your favorite foods|Sara Kiley Watson|September 25, 2021|Popular-Science
The insects can damage crops such as corn, soybeans and okra, and can also sting humans.
Fire ants build little syphons out of sand to feed without drowning|Aayushi Pratap|October 20, 2020|Science News
We played there endlessly, and Mama planted a garden of greens, okra and peppers.
My Vanished Liberia|Leymah Gbowee|October 7, 2011|DAILY BEAST

A West African native, okra is one of the stranger vegetables to make its way into regional American cuisine.
The Perfect Okra|Cookstr.com|February 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But okra is not just a vegetable of West Africa and North America.
The Perfect Okra|Cookstr.com|February 16, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Although okra originated in Africa, it is for the most part grown in the southern section of the United States.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
OKRA is a fruit vegetable consisting of a green pod that is several inches long, pointed at one end, and filled with seeds.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
When seasoned well with salt, pepper, and butter, stewed okra finds much favor with those who care for this vegetable.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Select the required number of okra pods and put them on to cook in enough boiling salted water to cover them well.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Heat the okra and tomatoes together in a saucepan and add the salt, pepper, and ham or bacon fat.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2|Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

British Dictionary definitions for okra

okra

/ (ˈəʊkrə) /

noun

Also called: ladies' fingers an annual malvaceous plant, Hibiscus esculentus, of the Old World tropics, with yellow-and-red flowers and edible oblong sticky green pods

the pod of this plant, eaten in soups, stews, etcSee also gumbo (def. 1)

Word Origin for okra

C18: of W African origin

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