okra
UK[ˈəʊkrə]US[ˈoʊkrə]
n
a tall plant with long green seed cases that are eaten as a vegetable
n
the green seed cases of the okra plant, used in cooking, especially in soups and stews
Etymology
the word "okra" entered english in the late 18th century, reflecting the plant's journey from africa to the americas via the transatlantic slave trade. it is a borrowing from a west african language, most directly from the igbo term "ókùrù". the plant itself is native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including africa and asia. the english name thus preserves a phonetic approximation of its name in its likely region of domestication, illustrating how culinary and agricultural exchange shapes vocabulary.
Analysis
the word "okra" is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within the english language. its origin is traced to the igbo (niger-congo language family) word "ókùrù".
Examples
gumbo is a classic louisiana dish that often features okra.
she thickened the soup by adding sliced okra.
fresh okra can be grilled, fried, or used in stews.