An annual plant (Abelmoschus esculentus syn. Hibiscus esculentus), whose green pods, abounding in nutritious mucilage, are much used for soups, stews, or pickles; gumbo. [1913 Webster]
The pods of the plant okra, used as a vegetable; also, a dish prepared with them; gumbo. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
okra, n.
1 a malvaceous African plant, Abelmoschus esculentus, yielding long ridged seed-pods.
2 the seed-pods eaten as a vegetable and used to thicken soups and stews. Also called GUMBO, ladies' fingers.