Definition

Noun: 1. A tropical plant cultivated for its edible seed pods: The okra plant is a tall, annual herb known for producing long, green, mucilaginous pods that are used as a vegetable in cooking, particularly in soups and stews.

Usage

The term "okra plant" refers specifically to the plant species Abelmoschus esculentus, which is grown for its fruit. - The gardener grew an okra plant in the sunny corner of the vegetable patch. - To make gumbo, you first need to harvest pods from a mature okra plant.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical context: In botanical classification, the okra plant is sometimes referred to by the synonym .
  • The okra plant, formerly classified under the genus Hibiscus, is a member of the mallow family.

Variants and Related Words

• Okra (noun): This is the common name for both the plant and, more frequently, its edible seed pods.
  • She bought a pound of fresh okra at the market.
• Lady's finger (noun): A common alternative name for the okra pod, used especially in English-speaking regions outside North America.
  • The recipe calls for lady's finger, which is another term for okra.

Synonyms

• Gumbo (noun): In the context of Southern U.S. cooking, "gumbo" can be used as a synonym for the okra pod itself, though it more commonly refers to the stew that contains it.
  • This variety of gumbo (the plant) is particularly drought-resistant.

Related Terms

• Mucilaginous (adjective): A key descriptive term for the texture of okra pods, meaning thick and slimy.
  • The mucilaginous quality of okra is essential for thickening soups.
• Pod (noun): The primary edible product of the okra plant.
  • Each okra plant can yield dozens of tender green pods over the season.

Noun

1. tall coarse annual of Old World tropics widely cultivated in southern United States and West Indies for its long mucilaginous green pods used as basis for soups and stews; sometimes placed in genus Hibiscus