taste bud

noun

: an end organ mediating the sensation of taste and lying chiefly in the epithelium of the tongue

Examples of taste bud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some can taste like mild roasted red peppers, while others will sear the taste buds right off your tongue. —Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Jan. 2026

Visitors receive eight sushi rolls made with lobster, avocado, togarashi and spicy mayo, the latter of which takes over the taste buds and lives up to the firecracker name. —Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026

The lemon flavor from the pastry cream hits your taste buds right away, then gently mellows as the silky lemon cream cheese frosting melts in your mouth without being overly sweet. —Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026

Appetite Control Pickles have a strong and tangy flavor that can stimulate your taste buds. —Sara Hoffman, Verywell Health, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for taste bud

• waterflood
• blood
• crud
• dud
• flood
• mud
• rud
• scud
• spud
• stud
• thud
• lifeblood

Kids Definition

taste bud

noun

: any of the sense organs by means of which taste is recognized and which are usually on the surface of the tongue

Medical Definition

taste bud

noun

: an end organ that mediates the sensation of taste, lies chiefly in the epithelium of the tongue and especially in the walls of the circumvallate papillae, and consists of a conical or flask-shaped mass made up partly of supporting cells and partly of neuroepithelial sensory cells terminating peripherally in short hairlike processes which project into the pore in the overlying epithelium and by which communication with the mouth cavity is effected