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

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

One discarded pile of oat pulp or moldy loaf of bread, at a time.

From Salon

The complicated case was settled in August 2022 when a Minnesota judge approved an agreement to divide the estate among Prince Legacy LLC and Prince Oat Holdings LLC, companies that were formed to represent the various siblings and heirs.

From Los Angeles Times

The range features an iced shaken espresso and a latte with olive oil and oat milk.

From BBC

Since the start of the overdose crisis, serious efforts have been made to expand the availability of OAT.

From Salon