Okra

Origin

Probably from Igbo ọkụrụ.

Full definition of okra

Noun

1. The annual plant, Abelmoschus esculentus, possibly of Ethiopian origin, grown for its edible pods; the pods of the plant.
• 1989, Ib Libner Nonnecke, Vegetable Production, page 610,Okra does not do well in tight, waterlogged soils, but will tolerate a soil pH range of from 6.0 to 7.5.
• 2006, Development, Security, and Cooperation, Policy and Global Affairs, National Research Council, Lost Crops of Africa, Volume II: Vegetables, page 298,Okras with red calyxes are known and should be tested for the possibility of producing a counterpart.
• 2011, Leon Neel, Paul S. Sutter, Albert G. Way, The Art of Managing Longleaf: A Personal History of the Stoddard-Neel Approach, page 36,We planted some truck crops like watermelons and okra, which was risky.
2. The edible pods of the plant.
• 1940, Farmers' Bulletin, Issue 232, page 7,Select young okra, wash thoroughly, remove the stems, and wipe the okra dry.
• 1997, Lisette Verlander, Susan Murphy, The Cookin' Cajun Cooking School Cookbook, page 25,Wash and dry okra, remove stems, and slice in one-inch rounds. (If using frozen okra, do not wash.) Heat two tablespoons oil in a heavy saucepan other than black iron. Saute okra in oil and vinegar, stirring often until ropiness is gone.
• 2006, Francis N. Wiltz, In the Kitchen with Papa Wiltz: Favorite Cajun-Creole and Mexican-American Recipes, page 1,I hated cooking okra because it was so slimy when you first start.

Synonyms

• (Abelmoschus esculentus) gumbo, ladies' fingers

Anagrams

• kora