English Reference

Word

oatmeal

Phoneticsoat·meal, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈoʊtˌmiɫ/

UK/ˈəʊtmiəl/

Definitions

01breakfast food

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking American English

n. a hot breakfast dish made by boiling oats in water or milk.

n. a porridge prepared from ground, steel-cut, or rolled oats. Uncountable in this sense.

“He eats a warm bowl of oatmeal with honey every morning before work.”

“The nutritionist recommended steel-cut oatmeal for breakfast due to its lower glycemic index compared to highly processed instant varieties.”

Usage

Commonly referred to as 'porridge' in British English.

Synonyms

02the grain

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking

n. oats that have been crushed or rolled into a powder or flakes.

n. meal made from rolled or ground oats, used as an ingredient in baking or as a base for cereal.

“The recipe for these cookies requires two cups of dry oatmeal.”

“The bakery sources organic oatmeal to produce their signature hearty loaves, ensuring a distinct texture and nutty flavour profile.”

Synonyms

03a colour

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. a light brownish-grey colour, similar to the look of cooked oats.

n. a light greyish-brown colour, typically used to describe textiles or interior design elements.

“She chose a sofa in oatmeal to match the neutral walls of her living room.”

“The interior designer suggested a palette of oatmeal and soft charcoal to create a sophisticated, muted atmosphere in the master suite.”

Synonyms

beigetaupesand

04colour description

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. having a light brownish-grey colour.

adj. denoting a light greyish-brown colour, often with a speckled or textured appearance in fabrics.

“He wore an oatmeal sweater that looked very comfortable and warm.”

“The collection featured several oatmeal linen blazers, designed to be breathable yet professional for summer business attire.”

Synonyms

Etymology

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

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Frequent
Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference