oat

[oht]

noun

1. a cereal grass, Avena sativa, cultivated for its edible seed.

2. (used with a singular or plural verb),  Usually oats. 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. informal

   1. to feel exuberant

   2. to feel self-important

6. slang,  to have sexual intercourse

7. to indulge in adventure or promiscuity during youth

Other Word Forms

• oatlike 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. sow one's wild oats. wild oat.

2. feel one's oats,

   1. to feel frisky or lively.

   2. to be aware of and use one's importance or power.

Example Sentences

Set out a few small luxuries—cream or oat milk, maple syrup, cinnamon—and let people build their perfect cup.A simple, old-fashioned coffee-and-dessert bar feels charming, cozy and complete.

Read more on Salon

Drinks made with plant-based milk, such as soya, oat and almond will be treated in a similar way to milk-drinks from 2028.

Read more on BBC

I ordered a lion's mane coffee with oat milk from Black Sheep, dubbed its "brain blend", alongside a regular oat-milk latte.

Read more on BBC

Books and pencils and porridge oats get dearer by the day, and the girls go through embroidery floss at an alarming rate.

Read more on Literature

Not to mention, they’re also a breakfast must-have, perfect in homemade yogurt bowls and overnight oats or served on a thick stack of warm pancakes.

Read more on Salon