palate
/ˈpæl.ət/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
The roof of the mouth, especially the hard part at the front. It is the part you feel with your tongue when you eat or speak.
- The hot food burned my palate.
- The doctor checked the roof of his mouth.
- A cleft palate can affect speech.
- 2.
A person's sense of taste, especially for food and drink. It can also mean a liking for certain tastes or styles.
- She has a very refined palate.
- This wine suits my palate.
- Spicy food is not to my palate.
Adinary Nuance
Palate is more specific than taste. Use palate for the mouth itself, or for a person's food preferences and sensitivity to flavour. It sounds more formal than taste, and it is common in writing about food, wine, and medicine.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vòm miệng
- Spanish
- paladar
- Chinese
- 上颚
- Japanese
- 口蓋
- Korean
- 입천장
Etymology
From Old French and Latin palatum, meaning 'roof of the mouth'. The taste sense developed from the idea that the mouth is where flavour is felt.
Common phrases
a refined palatea delicate palateto suit the palatepalate cleanser
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is palate the same as taste?
- Not exactly. **Taste** is the general ability to notice flavours. **Palate** is more specific and often sounds more formal.
- Can I use palate for food preferences?
- Yes. You can say someone has a **good palate** or a **refined palate** for food or wine.
- Is palate used in medicine?
- Yes. Doctors use it for the roof of the mouth, especially in phrases like **cleft palate**.
- What is a palate cleanser?
- It is a small food or drink taken between courses to refresh the mouth.