ENGLISH
REFERENCE

oatmeal

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈoʊtˌmiɫ// UK //ˈəʊtmiəl// oat·meal

n. a soft, warm food made by boiling crushed oats in water or milk. You usually eat it for breakfast.

n. a meal made from ground or rolled oats that have been boiled in liquid. Refers to both the raw processed grain and the prepared porridge.


SIMPLE

I like to eat hot oatmeal with honey for breakfast.

CONTEXTUAL

She prepares a bowl of oatmeal every morning because it keeps her full until lunchtime.

COMPLEX

While traditionally served plain, modern variations of oatmeal often include a diverse array of toppings such as toasted nuts, fresh berries, and maple syrup.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English otemele, from ote (“oat”) + mele (“meal, coarse-ground grains”). Equivalent to oat + meal.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the food in general; can be countable when ordering specific portions in a restaurant context.

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