taste

Pluraltastes

Formstastes, tasting, tasted

1. 1
   flavornouncountable or uncountable

   A sensation your tongue picks up, like sweet or salty, or the flavor that food has.

   Like the way your ears catch sound, your tongue catches taste.

   Sugar gives food a sweet taste.

   The medicine left a bitter taste in her mouth.

   UsageSay the taste of something, and food has a sweet taste.

   Similarflavor

2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To have a particular flavor when eaten or drunk.

   This soup tastes too salty.

   Lemons taste sour.

   UsageSay it tastes good (not incorrect: tastes well), and it tastes like chocolate.

3. 3
   try the flavorverbtransitive

   To put a little food or drink in your mouth to find out what it is like.

   Taste the soup before you add more salt.

   She tasted the sauce and added more pepper.

   Similarsample

4. 4
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The things a person generally likes or prefers, especially in art, music, food, or clothes.

   My brother and I have very different taste in music.

   We painted the bedroom blue to suit her taste.

   UsageSay taste in music or taste in clothes.

   Note
5. 5
   nounusually singular

   A person's liking or preference for certain things.

   He has a real taste for adventure.

   Living by the sea gave her a taste for fresh fish.

   UsageSay a taste for something: a taste for adventure.

   Similarliking, fondness, appetite, penchant

   Oppositedislike, distaste, aversion

6. 6
   sense (tongue)noununcountable

   The sense that lets you notice and understand flavors with your tongue.

   Like sight is the job of your eyes, taste is the job of your tongue.

   A bad cold can dull your sense of taste.

   Taste warns us when food has gone bad.

   UsagePeople often say sense of taste.

7. 7
   good judgmentnoununcountable

   The ability to tell what looks good or right, or what is polite and will not upset people.

   Her apartment is simple but lovely, because she has great taste.

   Making jokes at a funeral is in very bad taste.

   UsageSay someone has good taste, and a joke is in bad taste.

   Oppositevulgarity, tastelessness

   Note
8. 8
   brief experiencenounfigurativelyusually singular

   A short experience of something that shows what it is like.

   The trip gave us a taste of country life.

   This first week is only a taste of the job ahead.

   UsageSay a taste of something: a taste of city life.

   Similarglimpse, foretaste

9. 9
   nouncountable

   A small bit of food or drink that you try.

   Can I have a taste of your ice cream?

   She gave the baby a taste of mashed banana.

   UsageSay have a taste or a taste of your ice cream.

   Similarbite, sip, mouthful

10. 10
    detect flavorverbtransitive

    To notice a certain flavor in food or drink.

    I can taste garlic in this sauce.

    She tasted cinnamon in the warm cake.

    UsagePeople usually say I can taste garlic in this.

    Similardetect, discern, distinguish

11. 11
    know firsthandverbfigurativelytransitive

    To experience something, often for the first time.

    Young athletes all want to taste victory at least once.

    The team finally tasted defeat after a long winning streak.

    UsageOften taste victory or taste defeat.

    Similarexperience

    Note

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