oat

[ oht ]

noun

1. a cereal grass, Avena sativa, cultivated for its edible seed.
2. Usually oats. (used with a singular or plural verb) the seed of this plant, used as a food for humans and animals.
3. any of several plants of the same genus, as the wild oat.
4. Archaic. a musical pipe made of an oat straw.

oat

/ əʊt /

noun

1. an erect annual grass, Avena sativa, grown in temperate regions for its edible seed
2. usually plural the seeds or fruits of this grass
3. any of various other grasses of the genus Avena, such as the wild oat
4. poetic.
   a flute made from an oat straw
5. feel one's oats informal.
   1. to feel exuberant
   2. to feel self-important
6. get one's oats slang.
   to have sexual intercourse
7. sow one's oats or sow one's wild oats
   to indulge in adventure or promiscuity during youth

Other Words From

• oatlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oat¹

before 900; Middle English ote, Old English āte

Word History and Origins

Origin of oat¹

Old English āte, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. feel one's oats, Informal.
   1. to feel frisky or lively.
   2. to be aware of and use one's importance or power.
2. sow one's wild oats. wild oat ( def 3 ).

Example Sentences

Adverts for sugary breakfast cereals will also disappear from pre-watershed television screens, with granola, muesli and "porridge oats, including instant porridge and other hot oat-based cereals" all classed as "less healthy" food.

From BBC

But even then, I’d find myself quietly thankful for the crispness of Cinnamon Toast Crunch or the convenience of boxed oat milk.

From Salon

When the ne’er-do-well scion of a Russian oligarch sows his wild oats a little too enthusiastically with New York stripper Ani, some serious people are summoned.

From Los Angeles Times

If I stay home, I like overnight oats.

From Los Angeles Times

I’m like, ‘Read the ingredients in your oat milk! You think you’re being all healthy, look at that s—.’ Mine is just milk and cream.

From Los Angeles Times