okra

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noun \ ˈō-krə , Southern also -krē \

Definition of okra

1 :a tall annual herb (Abelmoschus esculentus) of the mallow family that is cultivated for its mucilaginous green pods used especially in soups or stews; also :the pods of this plant

2 :¹gumbo 1

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Recent Examples of okra from the Web

The porch is brimming with passion flower; iris; and herbs, peppers, and okra in small pots.

— rebecca ramsey, The Cut, "The 43-Day Fashion Shoot," 20 Aug. 2017
Other residents fled into a field of okra and cowered there until the police left.

— ellen barry, The Seattle Times, "A maid’s feud in India flares into class war," 15 July 2017
Other residents fled into a field of okra and cowered there until the police left.

— suhasini raj and ellen barry, New York Times, "At a Luxury Complex in India, the Maids and the Madams Go to War," 15 July 2017
Plant seeds for corn, beans, okra, parsnips, pumpkin, squash and watermelon.

— debbie arrington, sacbee, "Keep your cool, save your plants," 30 June 2017
Meanwhile okra battered in chickpea flour and fried hard has all the elements of counterpoint to the aforementioned cauliflower theater snack.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "The Spice Room is the Indian restaurant every neighborhood deserves," 28 June 2017
At JuneBaby, peanuts and whole, charred okra team up memorably in a smoky, spicy vinaigrette.

— providence cicero, The Seattle Times, "At JuneBaby, star chef Edouardo Jordan returns to his Southern roots," 22 June 2017
To minimize its viscous texture, look for pods that are small and firm, avoiding okra that is overly ripe or large.

— noelle carter, latimes.com, "Okra is in season. We have recipes," 9 June 2017
Cantaloupe cucuzza eggplant luffa okrapeanuts hot peppers sweet peppers (not bell peppers) pumpkin Southern peas Malabar spinach sweet potato (slips) watermelons heat-tolerant tomatoes.

— susan langenhennig, NOLA.com, "14 veggies to plant in June in New Orleans gardens," 3 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'okra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of okra

of African origin; akin to Ibo ókùrù okra

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First Known Use: 1679

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OKRA Defined for English Language Learners

okra

play

noun

Definition of okra for English Language Learners

: a tall plant whose pods are eaten as a vegetable and are used in soups and stews; also : the pods of this plant

OKRA Defined for Kids

okra

play

noun \ ˈō-krə \

Definition of okra for Students

:the green pods of a garden plant that are used as a vegetable especially in soups and stews

Learn More about okra

Spanish Central: Translation of okra Nglish: Translation of okra for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about okra

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okra

Definition of okra

Recent Examples of okra from the Web

Origin and Etymology of okra

OKRA Defined for English Language Learners

okra

Definition of okra for English Language Learners

OKRA Defined for Kids

okra

Definition of okra for Students

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