prātum, i, n. (collat. form prātus, m., Gromat. Vet. p. 322, 5) [root prat-; Sanscr. prath, to spread out; cf. Gr. πλατύς, πλάτανος], a meadow (class.).
I Lit.: pratum irriguum, aut siccum, Cato R. R. 8, 1: stercorare, id. ib. 8, 50: irrigua facere, id. ib. 8, 9; Varr. R. R. 2 prooem.: pratorum viriditas, Cic. Sen. 16, 57: irrigare, id. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 2: cratire, secare, caedere, sicilire, Plin. 18, 28, 67, § 258; 18, 3, 4, § 20: cultus prati, Col. 2, 17, 1: siccaneum, aut riguum, id. 2, 17, 3; Inscr. Grut. 204.—
II Transf.
A Meadow-grass (poet.): condita prata in patinis proferre, Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 22; Ov. A. A. 1, 299.—
B A broad field , plain; poet., of the sea: rostro Neptunia prata secare, Cic. Arat. 129.