okra

noun \ ˈō-krə , Southern also -krē \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

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 fried okra lives up to its high praise with a crispy breading and no sliminess at all, a common fault.

— larry olmsted, USA TODAY, "Dallas eatery elevates Kansas City-style 'cue," 5 Apr. 2018
Imagine buying summer corn and okra from Bruce Pearl.

— joseph goodman, AL.com, "Bruce Pearl and Auburn are finally back in the NCAA Tournament but storm clouds linger," 14 Mar. 2018
Other brunch dishes include a brioche French toast or scrambled eggs with grits and pickled okra.

— bud kennedy, star-telegram, "Fixe's biscuits, B&B's Benedicts make their Sunday brunch debut in Fort Worth | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 12 Mar. 2018
Chef Steven Satterfield divulges his grandmother's recipes for a family specialty, pickled okra.

— steven satterfield, Country Living, "Food & Drinks," 1 Feb. 2011
Plenty of people told them to stay away from perishable produce in a country so obsessed with freshness that shoppers surreptitiously break okra tips and sink their fingernails into cucumbers.

— Bloomberg.com, "How Dotcom Survivors Built a $950 Million Startup in India," 19 Mar. 2018
In the village of Ijhala, an hour’s drive from Qayyarah’s center, farmers have struggled to grow their traditional crops of okra, tomatoes, cucumber and watermelon.

— Washington Post, "The Islamic State’s toxic farewell: Environmental sabotage and chronic disease," 7 Mar. 2018
Now to the food or what was left of the food after Saveur had to toss raw beef, okra, turkey, legume, rice, turkey drumsticks and cooked beef that were kept at dangerously improper temperatures.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Poop in the oven, live rodents, dead rodents — and 12 restaurants are shut down | Miami Herald," 26 Feb. 2018
The potential for area gardeners is the introduction of unique, new germplasm for future amazing hybrids — with fire engine red flowers the size of dinner plates that smell like lilies, fry up the okra and walk the dog...

— paul cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Don't overlook the witch hazel plant for much-needed color in your winter garden," 16 Feb. 2018

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

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

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

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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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