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

Think clusters of honeyed oats, a handful of nuts, a whisper of cinnamon or maple, a pinch of sea salt.

Read more on Salon

His parents had worked with the school to put together a personal allergy action plan and a specific process for storing, preparing and supplying oat milk to the pupil.

Read more on BBC

But maybe you should think twice before grabbing that shake or mixing a scoop in your morning oats.

Read more on Salon

The salt could come from the Himalayas or the salt pans off Scotland’s west coast, the oats from nearby farms or as far as Australia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The company advised store managers that they would need to help dispose of suddenly unneeded inventory, like cups, oat milk and lemonade.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal