avena
|a-ve-na|
/əˈviːnə/
oats / oat plant
Etymology
'avena' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'avēna', where the root referred to 'oats' or 'a type of straw/grass.'
'avena' passed from Latin 'avēna' into the Romance languages (e.g., Spanish 'avena') and has been preserved in modern botanical Latin as the genus name 'Avena' used in English scientific nomenclature.
Initially, it meant 'oats' or 'a kind of straw/grass' in Latin; over time the form was kept in Spanish for the common cereal (avena) and in scientific contexts it came to be the proper name of the oat genus in botanical Latin and English usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
botanical genus Avena, a group of grass species that includes oats (e.g., Avena sativa). Used in botanical and agricultural contexts.
The species avena sativa is widely cultivated for its grain.
Synonyms
Noun 2
spanish noun meaning 'oats' or 'oatmeal'; in some Latin American and Caribbean contexts, avena refers to a traditional oat-based drink.
In Puerto Rico, people often drink cold avena flavored with cinnamon.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/01 02:22