I. ˈōt, usu ōd.+V noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English ote, from Old English āte
1.
a.
(1) : a plant of the genus Avena ; especially : a cereal grass ( Avena sativa ) that is an important grain crop in temperate regions through its wide cultivation as a source of food for both human beings and animals
(2) usually oats plural but singular or plural in construction : a crop of oats
oats can be grown further north than wheat
also : a field or plot of growing oats
the oats are doing well
b. usually oats plural but singular or plural in construction : oat seed ; especially : the seed of the cultivated oat plant
2. archaic : a crude reed instrument made of an oat straw : an oaten pipe
[s]oat.jpg[/s] [
oat 1a
]
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
archaic : to feed (a horse) with oats