Word of the Day

: April 9, 2011

organoleptic

adjective or-guh-noh-LEP-tik

What It Means

1 : being, affecting, or relating to qualities (as taste, color, odor, and feel) of a substance (as a food or drug) that stimulate the sense organs

2 : involving use of the sense organs

organoleptic in Context

"In addition to extra virgin olive oil, there are a number of other grades which define chemical and organoleptic qualities." -- From an article posted March 28th, 2011, at oliveoiltimes.com

"The goal of beverage distillers is generally a beverage, often very traditional in nature, with very specific organoleptic properties…." -- From Steven E. Ullrich's 2011 book Barley: Production, Improvement, and Uses

Did You Know?

English speakers first got a taste of "organoleptic" in an 1852 translation of a French chemistry textbook. Its spelling is an Anglicization of the French word "organoleptique," which derives from "organ" (same meaning as in English) and Greek "lēptikos," meaning "disposed to take or accept." "Lēptikos" is also an ingredient in "neuroleptic" (a type of powerful tranquilizer). The parent of "lēptikos" -- the verb "lambanein," meaning "to take or seize" -- contributed to the formation of several English words, including "epilepsy" and "syllable."