gustatory

American  

[guhs-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈgʌs təˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. of or relating to taste or tasting.

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Other Word Forms

• gustatorily adverb
• ungustatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of gustatory

1675–85; < Latin gustā ( re ) to taste + -tory ¹

Explanation

If you want to improve the gustatory appeal of a grapefruit, you might add a spoonful of sugar. Gustatory is an adjective that refers to tasting or the sense of taste. You may be tempted to link gustatory with the word gust, meaning "a quick, strong rush of wind." However, gustatory has its roots in the Latin gustare, meaning "to taste," while gust can be traced back to the Old Norse gustr, meaning to "to gush." But if a gust of wind brings with it the savory aroma of a nearby backyard barbecue, you might find yourself licking the air in gustatory frustration.

Example Sentences

Would it degrade your own gustatory experience if you knew those cooking for you weren't your friends and family but instead were robots?

From Salon • Aug. 29, 2024

Setting aside the specter of a mauling, social media users were impressed with “Oreo,” taking to X to unfurl a string of dad jokes about the animal’s gustatory predilections.

From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2024

“As always, I don’t want any special treatment. I want to be treated like everybody else,” he says in his video review, explaining why it didn’t feature the usual gustatory theater.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2023

This allowed the researchers to design an "electronic gustatory cortex" that connect a physiology-drive "hunger neuron," psychology-driven "appetite neuron" and a "feeding circuit."

From Science Daily • Oct. 4, 2023

While the old man in the underground prison had eaten well in North Korea, Park’s gustatory adventures were global.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• olfactory
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual