WILD OATS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does wild oats mean? 

• WILD OATS (noun)
  The noun WILD OATS has 1 sense:

1. any of various plants of the genus Uvularia having yellowish drooping bell-shaped flowers

  Familiarity information: WILD OATS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WILD OATS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various plants of the genus Uvularia having yellowish drooping bell-shaped flowers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

bellwort; merry bells; wild oats

Hypernyms ("wild oats" is a kind of...):

flower (a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "wild oats"):

cornflower; strawflower; Uvularia grandiflora (plant of southern and southeastern United States grown for its yellow flowers that can be dried)

Holonyms ("wild oats" is a member of...):

genus Uvularia; Uvularia (genus of perennial rhizomatous herb of southern and southeastern United States)

 Context examples 

Very likely some Mrs. Grundy will observe, "I don't believe it, boys will be boys, young men must sow their wild oats, and women must not expect miracles."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Let the boys be boys, the longer the better, and let the young men sow their wild oats if they must.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)