taste
/teɪst/- 1.
The sense used to notice flavours in food and drinks. It is one of the five main senses.
- My taste was affected by the cold.
- This soup has a strong taste.
- She has a very sensitive taste.
- 2.
A small amount of something, especially food or drink, that lets you try it before you decide.
- Would you like a taste of the curry?
- He had a taste of the cake.
- Just one taste is enough.
- 3.
A person's liking for certain things, such as clothes, music, or style.
- Her taste in music is excellent.
- We have different tastes in design.
- That jacket suits your taste.
To notice or experience the flavour of something by putting it in your mouth. It can also mean to try a small amount of something.
- Taste the sauce before adding salt.
- I can taste garlic in this dish.
- He tasted the tea and smiled.
Adinary Nuance
Taste is broader than flavour. Flavour is the quality in the food itself, while taste is the sense or the experience of it. In the meaning 'preference', taste is more natural than liking or choice when you talk about style, music, or food.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vị
- Spanish
- sabor
- Chinese
- 味道
- Japanese
- 味
- Korean
- 맛
Etymology
Taste comes from Old French taster, from Latin taxare, meaning 'to touch or examine'. The food meaning became common in English in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between taste and flavour?
- Taste is the sense or act of tasting. Flavour is the quality of the food or drink itself.
- Is taste used for personal preferences?
- Yes. You can talk about taste in music, clothes, art, or food.
- Is taste a noun or a verb?
- It is both. As a noun, it means flavour or preference. As a verb, it means to try or sense flavour.
- How do I use taste in a sentence?
- You can say, 'This soup tastes good' or 'I have different taste in music.'