oat

views updated May 17 2018

oat / ōt/ • n. a cereal plant (Avena sativa) cultivated chiefly in cool climates and widely used for animal feed as well as human consumption. ∎  (oats) the grain yielded by this, used as food. ∎  used in names of wild grasses related to the cultivated oat, e.g., wild oat.PHRASES: feel one's oats inf. feel lively and energetic.sow one's wild oats go through a period of wild or promiscuous behavior while young.DERIVATIVES: oat·en / ˈōtn/ adj. ( archaic )oat·y adj.

oat

views updated Jun 08 2018

oat Cereal plant native to w Europe, and cultivated worldwide. The flower comprises numerous florets that produce one-seeded fruits. Mainly fed to livestock, oats are also eaten by humans. Family Poaceae/Gramineae; species Avena sativa.

oat

views updated May 11 2018

oat (pl.) grains of the cereal Avena sativa. OE. āte, pl. ātan, peculiar to Eng. and of unkn. orig.
Hence oaten (-EN3) XV.

oat

views updated May 29 2018

oat See AVENA.

OAT

views updated May 29 2018

OAT outside air temperature