taste

verb \ ˈtāst \

Definition of taste

tasted; tasting

transitive verb

1 :to ascertain the flavor of by taking a little into the mouth

2 :to eat or drink especially in small quantities

3 :to perceive or recognize as if by the sense of taste

4 :to become acquainted with by experience

has tasted the frustration of defeat

5 archaic :appreciate, enjoy

intransitive verb

1 :to have a specific flavor

the apple tastes sour

2 :to eat or drink a little

3 :to test the flavor of something by taking a small part into the mouth

4 :to have perception, experience, or enjoyment :partake —often used with of

See taste defined for English-language learners

See taste defined for kids

Examples of taste in a Sentence

The pie tasted too sweet.
The wine tastes like vinegar.
She said there was garlic in the sauce, but I couldn't really taste it.
Have you ever tasted anything so delicious?
I tasted the tea and put more sugar in it.
She offered to taste the wine.
He tasted the tea to see if it was sweet enough.
This is the first food I've tasted since yesterday.
She talked about the day when she first tasted the joy of flying.
He has tasted the frustration of defeat.

Recent Examples of taste from the Web

Ingredients 4 pieces arctic char, 1 pound total Salt and pepper Sauce Go to taste on this.

— Cincinnati.com, "Candied jalapenos much requested," 30 Aug. 2017
In Indianapolis, Central State Brewing is canning an easily crushable, pleasantly tart, 4% table beer that tastes something like lemon curd spread over a baguette.

— alex delany, Bon Appetit, "What Is Table Beer, the Beer We've Been Seeing Everywhere?," 28 Aug. 2017
The spirit comes in two varieties: Garden 108, which tastes vaguely like a summer garden, and Spice 94, which is more pine-y.

— laura entis, Fortune, "Why These Investors Say the Sky’s the Limit for Amazon and Facebook," 26 Aug. 2017
If you haven't made it to Mitchell or Martinsville or Batesville, now is your chance to taste wines made there.

— amy haneline, Indianapolis Star, "6 reasons even north siders will want to go to Greenwood's WAMMfest," 15 Aug. 2017
A ticket to the ale fest gave the holder a chance to taste 18 3-ounce servings of craft beer – a limit of 54 ounces to ensure festival-goers drink responsibly.

— diane moca, Naperville Sun, "Naperville Ale Fest a draw for beer novices and connoisseurs," 15 July 2017
Smoke On The Water BBQ Feast, Saturday. South Florida pit masters battle for the championship — and visitors get to taste, plus live music and family fun.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Things to do with the kids this weekend: Free splash event, Cirque show," 12 July 2017
Stir in the vinegar and lime juice, then season to taste with sea salt.

— lulu powers, House Beautiful, "Cool Down on Summer Nights With This Sweet Corn Gazpacho," 12 July 2017
Food An article last Wednesday about a taste test of 10 all-beef hot dogs misstated some of the ingredients that could be tasted in Ball Park Uncured Beef Franks.

— New York Times, "Corrections: July 5, 2017," 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'taste.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of taste

Middle English, to touch, test, taste, from Anglo-French taster, from Vulgar Latin *taxitare, frequentative of Latin taxare to touch, feel — more at ²tax

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

taste Synonyms

Synonyms

endure, feel, have, know, pass, see, suffer, sustain, experience, undergo, witness

Related Words

encounter, meet; accept, receive; assimilate, digest

taste

noun

Definition of taste

1 :the objective sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a dissolved substance as perceived by the sense of taste

2 a :a sensation obtained from a substance in the mouth that is typically produced by the stimulation of the sense of taste combined with those of touch and smell :flavor

b :the distinctive quality of an experience

that gruesome scene left a bad taste in my mouth

3 :the special sense that perceives and distinguishes the sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a dissolved substance and is mediated by taste buds on the tongue

4 a :a small amount tasted

b :a small amount :bit; especially :a sample of experience

her first taste of success

c obsolete :the act of tasting

5 :individual preference :inclination

6 a :critical judgment, discernment, or appreciation

b :manner or aesthetic quality indicative of such discernment or appreciation

7 obsolete :test

See taste defined for English-language learners

Examples of taste in a Sentence

The wine had a slightly bitter taste.
She likes the taste of apples and cinnamon.
I detected a strong taste of ginger in the sauce.
The illness affected her sense of taste.

Recent Examples of taste from the Web

For a budget-friendly taste of lively East Passyunk Avenue, try the British meat pies at Stargazy, or the authentic Malaysian skewers at Sate Kampar.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Let's Eat: Grill of his dreams," 30 Aug. 2017
In a recent conversation with SI.com, Laviolette shared some of his experiences and stories, plus a developing taste for country music—but not hot chicken.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "Q&A: Predators’ Coach Peter Laviolette on the Olympics, Pregame Speeches and His Dog Stanley," 30 Aug. 2017
The Cards have a nasty taste in their mouths from the way 2016 concluded and will be looking for redemption against the ACC in 2017.

— The Courier-Journal, "Get pumped for the season! Check out Louisville football's hype video," 29 Aug. 2017
Often wines get bottle shock from bouncing around during travel, making them taste dull and flat.

— marissa a. ross, Bon Appetit, "How to Successfully Pack Wine in Your Suitcase," 29 Aug. 2017
Even back then, I was keenly tuned in to the food scene, health-minded and eager for new taste experiences.

— ellie krieger, charlotteobserver, "Next time pancakes are for dinner, make them Japan-easy," 29 Aug. 2017
While whiskey has thousands of compounds that impact taste, the researchers focused on three: water, ethanol and a compound called guaiacol that gives the drink its smoky flavor.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "The Scientific Reason You Should Add a Splash of Water to Your Whiskey," 21 Aug. 2017
Satisfied murmurs fill the room as our wandering band of taste-testers samples the various pairings.

— hailey ross, idahostatesman, "Sample some of Boise’s good eats, sips, stories with ‘The Ambassador of Idaho.’," 21 Aug. 2017
Vibe: Creating a mix and feeling smug about your taste.

— mehera bonner, Marie Claire, "25 Romantic Love Songs Guaranteed to Make You Melt," 9 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of taste

14th century

taste Synonyms

Synonyms

flavor, savor (also savour)

Antonyms

aversion, disfavor, disgust, dislike, distaste, hatred, loathing, mislike

Related Words

relish, smack, tang; savoriness, tastiness; aftertaste

Near Antonyms

tastelessness

TASTE Defined for English Language Learners

taste

verb

Definition of taste for English Language Learners

: to have a particular taste
: to sense the flavor of (something that you are eating or drinking)
: to put a small amount of (food or drink) in your mouth in order to find out what its flavor is

taste

noun

Definition of taste for English Language Learners

: the sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a thing that you can sense when it is in your mouth : the flavor that you can taste when you eat or drink something
: the ability to notice or recognize flavors when you eat or drink : the ability to taste things
: a small amount of food or drink that you have in order to see how it tastes

TASTE Defined for Kids

taste

verb \ ˈtāst \

Definition of taste for Students

tasted; tasting

1 :to find out the flavor of something by taking a little into the mouth

He has never tasted mango.

2 :to have a certain flavor

The milk tastes sour.

3 :to recognize by the sense of taste

I can taste salt in the soup.

4 :to eat or drink usually in small amounts

May I taste your dessert?

5 :²experience

She has the opportunity to taste big city life.

—

taster

noun

taste

noun

Definition of taste for Students

1 :the sense by which sweet, sour, bitter, or salty flavors are detected through sense organs ( taste buds ) in the tongue

2 :the quality of something recognized by the sense of taste or by this together with smell and touch :flavor

The fruit had a bitter taste.

3 :a small amount tasted

Do you want a taste of the ice cream?

4 :a personal liking

My sister has very expensive tastes.

5 :the ability to choose and enjoy what is good or beautiful

He has good taste in clothes.

6 :a sample of what something is like

… give them a taste of what you can do and you're in, performing for the crowd …
—Karen Hesse, Out of the Dust

Medical Dictionary

taste

verb \ ˈtāst \

medical Definition of taste

tasted; tasting

transitive verb

:to ascertain the flavor of by taking a little into the mouth

intransitive verb

:to have a specific flavor

the milk tastes sour

taste

noun

medical Definition of taste

1 :the one of the special senses that is concerned with distinguishing the sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a dissolved substance and is mediated by taste buds on the tongue

2 :the objective sweet, sour, bitter, or salty quality of a dissolved substance as perceived by the sense of taste

3 :a sensation obtained from a substance in the mouth that is typically produced by the stimulation of the sense of taste combined with those of touch and smell :flavor