taste en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /teɪst/
Etymology
The verb is from Middle English tasten, borrowed from Old French taster (“to taste, touch or hit”), from unattested Vulgar Latin *tastāre (“to touch or feel”), from *taxitāre, an innovated iterative form of Classical Latin taxāre (“to touch sharply”), from tangere (“to touch, to grasp”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g-, which is assumed to have had the same meaning as tangere. The noun came from the verb, and the two conflated after English lost its infinitive suffix -en, though tasten was most likely already used nominatively (as a gerund), similar to Modern English tasting. Almost fully displaced native smack, from Middle English smac, smak, smacke, from Old English smæc, smæċċ (“taste, smatch”). Displaced English smatch, from Middle English smacchen, smecchen, from Old English smæċċan (“to taste; to smack”); displaced also Middle English buriȝen, from Old English bierġan (“to taste”).
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) One of the sensations produced by the tongue in response to certain chemicals; the quality of giving this sensation.
Venison has a strong taste.
He had a strange taste in his mouth.
Like smell, taste has been found to imprint our minds with strong memories.
2023 June 15, Rebecca Wallwork, “‘You had to be there’: Foods that taste better on home turf”, in CNN:
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(countable, uncountable) The sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation.
His taste was impaired by an illness.
- (countable, uncountable) A small sample of food, drink, or recreational drugs.
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(countable, uncountable) A person's implicit set of preferences, especially esthetic, though also culinary, sartorial, etc.
Dr. Parker has good taste in wine.
That's very true indeed Sir Peter! after having married you I should never pretend to Taste again I allow.
1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.i:The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when modish taste was just due to go clean out of fashion for the best part of the next hundred years.
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:"My tastes," he said, still smiling, "incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet." And, to tease her and arouse her to combat: "I prefer a farandole to a nocturne; I'd rather have a painting than an etching; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects;[…]."
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
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(countable, uncountable) Personal preference; liking; predilection.
I have developed a taste for fine wine.
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(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A small amount of experience with something that gives a sense of its quality as a whole.
Such anecdotes give one a taste of life on a trauma ward.
I'm all out of luck / I'm all out of faith / I would give everything just for one taste / But everything's here, all out of place[…]
2007, KT Tunstall, “Saving My Face”, in Drastic Fantastic:Sir Humphrey Appleby: Bernard, what do you want? / Bernard Woolley: I want to have a clear conscience. / […] / Sir Humphrey Appleby: When did you acquire this taste for luxuries (laugh track)?
1980 March 3, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “Official Secrets (Yes, Prime Minister)”, in Yes, Prime Minister, season 2, episode 2, spoken by Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley (Nigel Hawthorne and Derek Fowlds):
- (countable, uncountable) A kind of narrow and thin silk ribbon.
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(countable, dialectal, uncountable) The least amount or portion of something; a jot.
"So he opened the door very quitely, an' didn't make a taste o' n'ise in the wurld, an' luked all about, but the niver a bit o' the little man cud he see anywhare, but he h'ard his hammerin' and whis'lin', an' so he luked and luked, till at last he seen the little fellow[.]"
1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 383:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| tast | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| tastes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
tastebud (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste-test (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · foretaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste pore (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste of one's own medicine (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · bad taste in one's mouth (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · pretaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · untaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · acquired taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · leave a sour taste in one's mouth (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste map (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · champagne taste on a beer budget (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · aftertaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · there's no accounting for taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · champagne taste on a beer billfold (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste-off (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · smaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · countertaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tastemaking (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste test (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tastemaker (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · all of one's taste is in one's mouth (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · in poor taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · in bad taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · champagne taste on a beer wallet (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tasteless (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tasteful (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tastewise (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · champagne taste on a beer salary (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · undertaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · to one's taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · distaste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · taste of one's own poison (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · to someone's taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · to taste (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · all one's taste is in one's mouth (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · tasty (Terms derived from taste (noun)) · champagne taste on a beer pocketbook (Terms derived from taste (noun))
Hyponyms
savor (sensation produced by the tongue) · relish (sensation produced by the tongue)
Meronyms
sweet (sensation produced by the tongue) · bitter (sensation produced by the tongue) · sour (sensation produced by the tongue) · spicy (sensation produced by the tongue) · umami (sensation produced by the tongue) · salty (sensation produced by the tongue)
Synonyms
trial (small amount of experience) · discernment (set of preferences) · sample (small amount of experience) · smack (sensation produced by the tongue) · style (set of preferences) · culture (set of preferences) · smatch · impression (small amount of experience) · palate · palate · refinement (set of preferences)
Translations (267)
gan 味道 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · he טַעַם (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · la sapor (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · vec saor (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ko 맛 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi रुचि (personal preference; liking; predilection) · hu kóstoló ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · pl smak (implicit set of preferences) · kaw rasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · mi tāwara (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ar ذَوْق (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pl smak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tab дад (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · dsb šmek (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízlés (implicit set of preferences) · enm smak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · eu dastamen (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi वरीयता (personal preference; liking; predilection) · gsw Gust (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · my အရသာ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ca sabor (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · sdc tastu ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · lv gaume (implicit set of preferences) · as জুতি (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tk tagam (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · vec saore (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízlelőképesség (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · txb śūke (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · la palātum (implicit set of preferences) · tr çeşni (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · da smagsprøve ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · fi mieltymys (personal preference; liking; predilection) · ps خوند (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tr tat (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · kmr çêj (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ko 미각 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ja 味覚 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tet tamis (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · arz ذوق (implicit set of preferences) · is forsmekkur ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · as সোৱাদ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nan-hbl 味 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hy ճաշակ (implicit set of preferences) · ka გემო (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · vi vị giác (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · bho स्वाद (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ms citarasa (implicit set of preferences) · fi maku (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · sk chuť (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · mk вкус (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · el προτίμηση (implicit set of preferences) · sl okȗs (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ca tast (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi ज़ायक़ा (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ru вкус (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ru вкус (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · fur gust (implicit set of preferences) · gl gusto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cmn 品味 (implicit set of preferences) · dng видо (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · gl chorido (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi स्वाद (implicit set of preferences) · yi גוסט (implicit set of preferences) · gd blas (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · th รสชาติ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · sd سواد (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · yi טעם (implicit set of preferences) · xal амтн (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ga tástáil ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · hy համ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · th รส (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cy blas (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · gl celme (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízlés (personal preference; liking; predilection) · it gusto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · yue 味道 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · az dad (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fur gust (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · gld амтан (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · lmo savor (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · zlw-ocs chut (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nl smaak (implicit set of preferences) · egy d:p*t-F20-A2 ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · rm gust (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ba тәм (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bn সোয়াদ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · it gusto (implicit set of preferences) · pt sabor (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · my ရသာရုံ (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · cmn 味道 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu íz (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · lt skonis (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bg скло́нност (personal preference; liking; predilection) · sv tycke (implicit set of preferences) · sv smak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · mnp 味道 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · uz taʻm (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nb smakebit ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · sc gustu (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · el πρόγευση ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · cs vkus (implicit set of preferences) · uk смак (implicit set of preferences) · ro gust (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · id rasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · enm smak (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · el γούστο (implicit set of preferences) · sc tastu ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · az zövq (implicit set of preferences) · hu tetszés (personal preference; liking; predilection) · sh ùkus (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi स्वाद (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ms rasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bg про́ба ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · sq shije (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · evn амта (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nb smak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · rup gustu (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ht gou (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízlelés (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · ru вкус ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · bn স্বাদ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ota لذت (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ca gust (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · grc γεῦσις (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · rm gost (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cmn 味覺 /味觉 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cmn 氣味 /气味 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fr saveur (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pt gosto (implicit set of preferences) · sv smakprov ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · ga blas (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízérzékelés (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · km រសជាតិ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cdo 味 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fi makuaisti (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · sa रस (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · is bragð (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · yi געשמאַק (implicit set of preferences) · kpv кӧр (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · es muestra ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · ur مَزَہ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · el γεύση (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tl panlasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cmn 味兒 /味儿 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · sh у̀кус (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · kmr tam (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hi स्वाद ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · fur savôr (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · it preferenza (personal preference; liking; predilection) · ltg garža (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · kk дәм (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · lv garša (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ckb چاخ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tg маза (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · el γεύση ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · nl smaak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nn smak (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · cs chuť (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bn মজা (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · gl laimo (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tab тӏяаьм (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tt тәм (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · lo ລົດຊາດ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fi maku (implicit set of preferences) · dsb słod (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · sv smak (implicit set of preferences) · vi sở thích (implicit set of preferences) · de Schmecken (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · acw طَعَم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fr goût (implicit set of preferences) · eve амтан (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pt prova ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · tg таъм (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · es gusto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ar طَعْم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ce чам (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ar ذَوْق (implicit set of preferences) · vi gu (implicit set of preferences) · vi vị (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · eo gusto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · be смак (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · es probadura (a small sample of food, drink, or recreational drugs) · ug تەم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ota طات (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pl gust (implicit set of preferences) · gl tasto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · it inclinazione (implicit set of preferences) · hu ízérzék (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · tg мазза (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · egy d:p*t-F20-A2 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ka მიდრეკილება (personal preference; liking; predilection) · msk nanam (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · nb smak (implicit set of preferences) · ru скло́нность (personal preference; liking; predilection) · ru вкус (implicit set of preferences) · nn smak (implicit set of preferences) · ne स्वाद (implicit set of preferences) · es cata (a small sample of food, drink, or recreational drugs) · ckb تام (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · tr lezzet (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · uk смак (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · jv rasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · la gustātus (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · de Geschmack (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · oc tast (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ps طعم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · da smag (implicit set of preferences) · za feihdauh (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pt gosto (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · acw ذوق (implicit set of preferences) · sv smakbit ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · my ရသ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · it gusto (personal preference; liking; predilection) · gu સ્વાદ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · inh чам (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ky даам (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · es gusto (implicit set of preferences) · is smekkur (implicit set of preferences) · os ад (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pi rasa (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ur ذائِقَہ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fa-ira مَزِه (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pa ਸੁਆਦ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · yue 味 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ja 味 (implicit set of preferences) · pt paladar (implicit set of preferences) · fa-ira مَزِّه (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ja 趣味 (implicit set of preferences) · oc gost (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · lmo savur (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fa-ira طَعْم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bg вкус (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · scn gustu (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ka გემოვნება (implicit set of preferences) · ar مَذَاق (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ur طَعْم (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · fi maku ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · izh maku (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · es gustos (implicit set of preferences) · mi tāw(h)ara (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ba тат (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu ízelítő ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · fi makuaisti (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · mn амт (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bdr reso (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · ja 味 (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · hu kedv (personal preference; liking; predilection) · kum татыв (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pt paladar (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · gl saibo (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · niv амра (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · de Geschmack (implicit set of preferences) · et maitse (implicit set of preferences) · bg опи́тване ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · et maitse (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · la sapor (implicit set of preferences) · mnc ᠠᠮᡨᠠᠨ (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · pl smak (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · da smag (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bg вкус (implicit set of preferences) · fr avant-goût ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · ru пе́рвое знако́мство ((figuratively) a small amount of experience) · fr goût (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · it sapore (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · liv maits (one of the sensations produced by the tongue) · bg вкус (the sense that consists in the perception and interpretation of this sensation) · sc tastu ((figuratively) a small amount of experience)