taste

verb

\ ˈtāst

tasted; tasting

Definition of taste

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

taste

noun

Definition of taste (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2a : 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

4a : 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

6a : critical judgment, discernment, or appreciation

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

7 obsolete : test

Other Words from taste Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about taste

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of taste in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web: Verb

Rodas said participants can taste wine for $2 per pour from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and can wander among the art work with their commemorative wine glass in hand. — Sheryl Devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Arts festival features more vendors, tastes of vino, local music," 13 June 2018 Avocados make everything taste better: eggs, sandwiches, salads, even desserts (well, according to some people). — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "How to Grow an Avocado Tree From a Pit," 29 Jan. 2019 Thus, a tweet full of bluster that allowed people to practically taste the chip growing on Gritty’s shoulder could only help pull Gritty into Philly’s good graces. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Gritty’s evolution from googly-eyed hockey mascot to meme to leftist avatar, explained," 24 Dec. 2018 It's flavored with garlic and Meyer lemon and tastes delicious drizzled on salads or over vegetables. — Allure, "12 CBD Tinctures, Gummies, and Drinks That Help Calm Anxiety," 23 Oct. 2018 Every meal tastes great and can be efficiently made in this cookbook, which features options such as Cajun Blackened Fish, Chicken Tacos, and Tandoori Beef Burgers. — Indianapolis Star, "eCookbook: Chef Express Quick Time Dishes," 10 July 2018 Sunday Scaries just majorly expanded its offerings, including adding a vegan gummy option that tastes like a mix between a gummy bear and a Sour Patch Kid. — Allure, "12 CBD Tinctures, Gummies, and Drinks That Help Calm Anxiety," 23 Oct. 2018 According to a 2001 police report from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, Reid and a friend claimed to have been picked up and brought to a short-stay Naval housing facility and given a liquid to drink that tasted like soda. — Colin Stutz, Billboard, "Petition Demands Charlamagne Tha God's Firing From 'The Breakfast Club' After Rape Allegation Resurfaces," 11 July 2018 For example, to craft a Neapolitan pizza that tastes as if it was made in the Campania region of Italy, Spizzirri adjusts the controls in the room to mirror the conditions in Naples, Italy. — Suzanne Baker, Naperville Sun, "Chefs on a mission to make Lisle 'the mecca of the pizza world' with new academy," 23 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Now, choosing an outfit is about more than just personal taste. — Ariel Henley, Allure, "How Fashion Lets Me Embrace the Physical Differences Caused by Crouzon Syndrome," 12 Mar. 2019 Her resume's blend of fashion campaigns and philanthropy work is beyond impressive, but the recent listing her NYC apartment has us all praising her interior design taste too. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner Are Selling Their $7 Million NYC Apartment," 4 Mar. 2019 So, is Home Alone just a US knockoff, sanitized for American tastes? — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Dial Code: Santa Claus is our new favorite holiday cult classic," 24 Dec. 2018 Car companies often tweak their vehicles for different markets in order to comply with regulations or serve varying customer tastes. — Sean O'kane, The Verge, "Ford dreams up a way to kill ‘new car smell’," 20 Nov. 2018 Their frozen lineup skews more to modern tastes with dulce de leche, sea salt caramel, and peppermint bark. — Lauren Delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Take a break from steamy summer with cool, creamy gelato," 12 July 2018 This move into the physical world was fresh ground for Google, whose taste for projects outside its core business had yielded Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Books—cool stuff, but still software. — Alex Davies, WIRED, "Inside X, the Moonshot Factory Racing to Build the Next Google," 11 July 2018 The new race in Texas and the return to Laguna Seca in Monterrey, California, for the season finale gives IndyCar a taste for new fans and old. — Jim Vertuno, The Seattle Times, "IndyCar revving up tons of momentum for 2019 season," 11 Feb. 2019 With Pacific Island objects interspersed among these Gauguin paintings and drawings, visitors are given a taste of his southern milieu. — Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, "‘Gauguin: A Spiritual Journey’ Review: Tracing a Painter’s Soul," 6 Jan. 2019

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about taste

Dictionary Entries near taste

Statistics for taste

Last Updated

21 Mar 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for taste

The first known use of taste was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for taste

taste

verb

English Language Learners Definition of taste

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

English Language Learners Definition of taste (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

See the full definition for taste in the English Language Learners Dictionary

taste

verb

\ ˈtāst

tasted; tasting

Kids Definition of taste

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 : experience entry 2 She has the opportunity to taste big city life.

taste

noun

Kids Definition of taste (Entry 2 of 2)

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

taste

verb

\ ˈtāst

tasted; tasting

Medical Definition of taste

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 (Entry 2 of 2)

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