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Abelmoschus esculentus

Abelmoschus esculentus

8.6
A tall plant that makes green edible pods called okra used in cooking
  • noun
  • /ˌeɪbəlˈmɒskəs ˌɛskjʊˈlɛntəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Abelmoschus esculentus
  • Many chefs recommend using Abelmoschus esculentus to enhance the flavor of soups and stews.

Examples

  • I love cooking with Abelmoschus esculentus in my gumbo.

  • The garden features several rows of Abelmoschus esculentus alongside other tropical vegetables.

  • Abelmoschus esculentus is widely cultivated in warm regions for its nutritious pods.

  • Researchers studied the benefits of Abelmoschus esculentus in controlling blood sugar levels.

  • Have you ever tried Abelmoschus esculentus in a salad?

  • Abelmoschus esculentus is widely cultivated in warm regions for its nutritious pods used in various dishes.

  • In my garden, I grow Abelmoschus esculentus because it adds a lovely texture to my cooking.

Synonyms

okra
vsAbelmoschus esculentus
18 4.0

A vegetable with long green pods used in soups and stews

is the official Latin name instead of the common vegetable term
gumbo
vsAbelmoschus esculentus
  • US
1 5.6

A plant with long green pods that people eat as a vegetable

is the formal scientific name, not the regional culinary label
Hibiscus esculentus
vsAbelmoschus esculentus
  • Specialized
6.5

A tall plant grown for its edible green pods called okra

is the identical scientific label rather than a common name
okra plant
vsAbelmoschus esculentus
  • Specialized
3.5

A tall plant in warm climates that makes edible green pods for cooking

is the scientific label, not the everyday plant name
lady's-finger
vsAbelmoschus esculentus
  • UK
4.2

A vegetable plant that makes long green pods used in soups and stews, also called okra

is the scientific designation rather than an informal name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Abelmoschus + esculentus

The name is a standard Linnaean binomial: Abelmoschus (a plant genus) + esculentus (Latin for 'edible'), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'the edible species of Abelmoschus' — i.e., okra. This follows a compositional, cross-linguistically regular pattern of scientific names, making the meaning derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Abelmoschus esculentus may come from two parts: Abelmoschus from an old Arabic word meaning 'father of musk' because the seeds can smell a little like musk, and esculentus, a Latin word meaning 'edible'. So the name literally points to the edible okra plant, which helps you remember it refers to the okra we eat.