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Glite Dictionary
lady's-finger

lady's-finger

4.2
A vegetable plant that makes long green pods used in soups and stews, also called okra
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdiz ˈfɪŋɡər/
  • UK
translation icon : quimbombó
  • She prefers lady's-finger fried with spices as a side dish.

Examples

  • Traditional gumbo often includes smoked sausage, shrimp, and lady's-finger for texture and flavor.

  • I love adding lady's-finger to my gumbo.

  • We planted several lady's-fingers in our vegetable garden this spring to try new recipes.

  • The lady's-fingers were fresh at the market.

  • The chef added lady's-finger to the stew for added flavor and texture.

  • In many Southern dishes, lady's-finger is a popular ingredient, especially in gumbo.

  • You can find lady's-finger at the grocery store, where it is often sold with other fresh vegetables.

Synonyms

okra
vslady's-finger
18 4.0

A vegetable with long green pods used in soups and stews

is a regional or informal culinary name rather than the neutral term
gumbo
vslady's-finger
  • US
1 5.6

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

is mainly the English culinary name for the same plant rather than the dish
Abelmoschus esculentus
vslady's-finger
  • Specialized
8.6

A tall plant that makes green edible pods called okra used in cooking

is the common cooking name used for the same plant
Hibiscus esculentus
vslady's-finger
  • Specialized
6.5

A tall plant grown for its edible green pods called okra

is the everyday culinary name rather than a taxonomic label
okra plant
vslady's-finger
  • Specialized
3.5

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

focuses on the common food pod and slender shape rather than plant texture
ladyfinger
vslady's-finger
  • Indian
3.7

A long green vegetable also called okra used in cooking

is a dialectal culinary name emphasizing slender shape rather than scientific label

How Edible

vegetable
545 1.0
lady's-finger
  • UK
4.2
herb
118 1.0
ornamental
1 4.8

Surface Forms

lady's-finger singular
lady's-fingers plural

Morphology

lady's-finger = lady + finger (semi-transparent) = lady + finger

The components 'lady' and 'finger' are clear and the name is metaphorical (referring to the pod's shape), but knowing those parts does not allow a learner to infer the referent 'okra' without cultural or botanical knowledge.

Etymology

The word lady's-finger comes from the simple picture of the vegetable: its long, thin green pods look like a woman's fingers and it is another name for okra. So, the name helps you remember the plant by its 'finger-like' shape.