taste

[ teyst ]

verb (used with object)

, tast·ed, tast·ing.

1. to try or test the flavor or quality of (something) by taking some into the mouth:

   to taste food.

   Synonyms: savor

2. to eat or drink a little of:

   She barely tasted her dinner.

3. to eat or drink (often used in negative constructions):

   He hadn't tasted food for three days.

4. to perceive or distinguish the flavor of:

   to taste the wine in a sauce.

5. to have or get experience, especially a slight experience:

   these young men who had only begun to taste life.

6. to perceive in any way.
7. Archaic. to enjoy or appreciate.
8. Obsolete.
   1. to examine by touch; feel.
   2. to test or try.

verb (used without object)

, tast·ed, tast·ing.

1. to try the flavor or quality of something.
2. to eat or drink a little (usually followed by of ):

   She tasted of the cake.

3. to perceive or distinguish the flavor of anything.
4. to have experience of something, however limited or slight.
5. to have a particular flavor (often followed by of ):

   The coffee tastes bitter. The bread tastes of mold.

6. to smack or savor (usually followed by of ):

   The story tastes of treason.

noun

1. the act of tasting food or drink.
2. the sense by which the flavor or savor of things is perceived when they are brought into contact with the tongue.
3. the sensation or quality as perceived by this sense; flavor.
4. a small quantity tasted; a morsel, bit, or sip.
5. a relish, liking, or partiality for something:

   a taste for music.

   Synonyms: predisposition, appreciation, disposition, fondness

   Antonyms: antipathy

6. the sense of what is fitting, harmonious, or beautiful; the perception and enjoyment of what constitutes excellence in the fine arts, literature, fashion, etc.

   Synonyms: judgment, perception, discernment

7. the sense of what is seemly, polite, tactful, etc., to say or do in a given social situation.
8. one's personal attitude or reaction toward an aesthetic phenomenon or social situation, regarded as either good or bad.
9. the ideas of aesthetic excellence or of aesthetically valid forms prevailing in a culture or personal to an individual:

   a sample of Victorian taste; I consulted only my own taste in decorating this room.

10. the formal idiom preferred by a certain artist or culture; style; manner:

    a façade in the Baroque taste.

11. a slight experience or a sample of something:

    a taste of adventure.

12. a feeling or sensation resulting from an experience:

    a compromise that left a bad taste in her mouth.

13. Obsolete. test or trial.

taste

/ teɪst /

noun

1. the sense by which the qualities and flavour of a substance are distinguished by the taste buds
2. the sensation experienced by means of the taste buds
3. the act of tasting
4. a small amount eaten, drunk, or tried on the tongue
5. a brief experience of something

   a taste of the whip

6. a preference or liking for something; inclination

   to have a taste for danger

7. the ability to make discerning judgments about aesthetic, artistic, and intellectual matters; discrimination

   to have taste

8. judgment of aesthetic or social matters according to a generally accepted standard

   bad taste

9. discretion; delicacy

   that remark lacks taste

10. obsolete.
    the act of testing

verb

1. to distinguish the taste of (a substance) by means of the taste buds
2. usually tr to take a small amount of (a food, liquid, etc) into the mouth, esp in order to test the quality

   to taste the wine

3. often foll by of to have a specific flavour or taste

   the tea tastes of soap

   this apple tastes sour

4. whenintr, usually foll by of to have an experience of (something)

   to taste success

5. tr an archaic word for enjoy
6. obsolete.
   tr to test by touching

Derived Forms

• ˈtastable, adjective

Other Words From

• tasta·ble tastea·ble adjective
• pre·taste noun verb (used with object) pretasted pretasting
• re·taste verb retasted retasting
• un·tasta·ble adjective
• un·tastea·ble adjective
• un·tasted adjective
• un·tasting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of taste¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English tasten “to touch, taste,” from Old French taster “to touch, explore by touching” ( Middle French: “to touch, taste”); cognate with Italian tastare, Provençal, Old Spanish tastar, of uncertain origin; (noun) Middle English tast “sense of touch, a trying, tasting,” from Old French, derivative of taster

Word History and Origins

Origin of taste¹

C13: from Old French taster, ultimately from Latin taxāre to appraise

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to one's taste, agreeable or pleasing to one:

   He couldn't find any ties that were completely to his taste.

2. taste blood. blood ( def 24 ).

More idioms and phrases containing taste

see acquired taste ; dose (taste) of one's own medicine ; leave a bad taste in one's mouth ; no accounting for tastes ; poor taste .

Synonym Study

Taste, flavor, savor refer to a quality that is perceived when a substance is placed upon the tongue. Taste is the general word: the taste of roast beef. Flavor is a characteristic taste, usually of a pleasing kind, and as of some ingredient put into the food: lemon flavor. Savor, much less common than taste or flavor, implies pleasing scent as well as taste or flavor, and connotes enjoyment in tasting: The sauce has an excellent savor.

Example Sentences

England last tasted victory in June against Japan, who they face in their final Autumn Nations Series game on 24 November.

From BBC

You can practically taste the sweet nectar of Middle East peace generated by that decision.

From Los Angeles Times

We keep the wine list vast and fun, showcasing exciting selections and offer options for all tastes and palettes.

From Salon

Gatland's side have not tasted international success since beating World Cup pool stage opponents Georgia in October 2023 and have slipped to a lowest position of 11th in World Rugby's rankings.

From BBC

And, perhaps most notably, it resulted in the creation of foods that repurpose what might otherwise end up in the garbage without sacrificing taste in the interest of altruism.

From Salon

Related Words

• appetite
• desire
• fondness
• heart
• palate
• penchant
• type
• understanding

More About Taste

What is a basic definition of taste?

Taste is the human sense that we use to experience the flavors of things we eat and drink. Taste is the flavor of something, and to taste something means to eat or drink a small amount of it. Taste has many other senses as a verb and a noun.

Taste is one of the five basic senses, along with sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Our senses are how we perceive stimuli from within or without the body.

• Real-life examples: Humans use their mouth, tongue, and taste buds to experience the flavor or sensations of different foods and drinks. Animals have a sense of taste as well, although most of them have different taste buds than humans so foods will have different flavors to them.
• Used in a sentence: When Isiah was sick he lost his sense of taste and his mother’s soup no longer tasted good to him.

The unique sensation or flavor that a food, drink, or other thing causes is called its taste. Something that has a good taste is said to be tasty.

• Real-life examples: Most fruits have a sweet taste. A lot of people do not like the taste of fish. Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream all have different tastes.
• Used in a sentence: I know cauliflower is good for me, but I just don’t like the taste of it.

Taste is used to mean to put a small amount of something into your mouth to determine what kind of sensation it causes. This way, we can tell “what it tastes like.”

• Real-life examples: Parents everywhere struggle to get children to even taste their vegetables. You might cautiously taste a piece of unfamiliar food. A chef may taste a small spoonful of their cooking to see if it needs more spices.
• Used in a sentence: The puppy tasted only a small bite of the new dog food before walking away in disgust.

Where does taste come from?

The first records of taste come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Old French taster, meaning “to touch” or “to explore by touching.”

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to taste?

• tasty (adjective)
• taster (noun)
• tasteless (adjective)
• retaste (verb)
• untastable (adjective)

What are some synonyms for taste?

• eat
• savor
• enjoy
• appetite
• palate
• nibble
• bite

What are some words that share a root or word element with taste? 

• tasteful
• leave a bad taste in one’s mouth
• acquired taste
• taste of one’s own medicine

What are some words that often get used in discussing taste?

• food
• drink
• eat
• bad
• delicious
• fashion
• sample

How is taste used in real life?

Taste is a very common word that people use to describe the flavors of foods and drinks that they consume.

I don’t know when I became a coffee lover. I used to hate the taste of it lol

— Taylor ✨ (@taayylorrnicole) November 30, 2020

I’m trying a blueberry ginger pie recipe and I just tasted the filling and it is SO GOOD! I can’t wait to eat it! 🤤

— Lauren Skidmore (@ilaurenskidmore) November 26, 2020

I made tea like 10 minutes ago and literally didn’t even taste it before it fell all over a bunch of my stuff🙃🙃

— hazel (@hzelafrodite) July 6, 2020

Try using taste!

True or False?

You might say your soup tastes loud.