Definition of palate
1 : the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity — see hard palate, soft palate
2a : a usually intellectual taste or liking too ornate for my palate … I heard a little too much preaching … and lost my palate for it. — George Eliotb : the sense of taste serves Korean food adapted for the American palate
People Are Reading
Examples of palate in a Sentence
The restaurant serves Korean food adapted for the American palate.
She's been working hard on a menu that will please the palates of all her guests.
Recent Examples of palate from the Web
-
For a more adventurous palate, Little Sheep Hot Pot is taking the 1170 Iroquois Ave.
-
Our radicchio and endive salad toyed with the palate, with sweet gorgonzola, pine nuts, balsamic and honey battling black olives, roasted red peppers and extra-virgin olive oil to a pleasing draw.
-
Better to use your own palate to measure the balance of flavors in a tomato sauce than a recipe written by someone using different tomatoes from a different farm.
-
El Birdos Cantina satisfied his palate – and his play.
-
Liz has had 18 surgeries to correct her cleft palate as well as sinus and ear problems.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'palate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of palate
Middle English, from Latin palatum
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Anatomy Terms
PALATE Defined for English Language Learners
palate
playDefinition of palate for English Language Learners
-
: the top part of the inside of your mouth : the roof of your mouth
-
: the sense of taste
PALATE Defined for Kids
palate
playDefinition of palate for Students
1 : the top area of the inside of the mouth made up of a bony front part (hard palate) and a soft flexible back part (soft palate)
2 : the sense of taste This is too spicy for my palate.
Medical Dictionary
palate
playMedical Definition of palate
: the roof of the mouth separating the mouth from the nasal cavity—see hard palate, soft palate
Illustration of palate
Learn More about palate
-
See words that rhyme with palate Spanish Central: Translation of palate Nglish: Translation of palate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of palate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about palate
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up palate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!