oat-likeadj.
/ˈəʊtlʌɪk/, U.S. /ˈoʊtˌlaɪk/ 1. Resembling an oat plant, or that of an oat plant.
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1702 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 23 1257 This is easily known from the other Schænanths in having hollow Oat-like husks.
1830 J. Baxter Libr. Agric. & Hort. Knowl. 247 Tall oat-like soft-grass, Holcus avenaceus.
1862 R. F. Burton City of Saints (ed. 2) xiii. 488 A plentiful supply of bunch-grass, whose dark seeds it was difficult to husk out of the oat-like capsules.
1918 F. W. Hilgendore Pasture Plants & Pastures N.Z. ii. 42 Snow Grass (Danthonia raoulii)..has broad leaves shining below, and feathery oat-like heads.
1991 Pract. Gardening Dec. 32/3 The giant Stipa gigantea keeps its plumes of oat-like flowers for months.
2. Like or resembling an oat grain.
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1853 Sci. Amer. 18 June 320/3 Cicadæ..laying 40 oat-like eggs, and leaping 50 feet.
1882 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 173 643 Its abdominal scales are also narrower and more pointed, approaching in this to the oat-like form of those of Hylerpeton.
1937 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) B. 228 118 The greater part of this operculum..is strengthened by a series of very small oat-like scales.
Compounds
oat-like grass n. any of various grasses that resemble the oat; (originally) spec. false oat grass, Arrhenatherum elatius, or other member of the genus Arrhenatherum (now rare or disused).
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1835 W. J. Hooker Brit. Flora I. 42 Arrhenatherum, Oat-like grass.
1853 H. Stephens Farmer's Guide II. 256/2 The oat-like grass, commonly called knot-grass.
1865 J. Buckman Sci. & Pract. Farm Cultiv. 66 The Oat-like Grass (Arrhenatherum avenaceum, fig. 24)..is still too common in poor soils.
1902 N.E.D. at Oat Oat-like grass, Arrhenatherum avenaceum, considered by Linnæus an Avena.
1942 Jrnl. Ecol. 30 115 The amazing giant oat-like grass, Trichopteryx superba.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1702