taste
tayst
Taste (noun) means the sensation produced when food or drink is detected by the tongue, or the ability to perceive it. Example: “The soup had a rich, salty taste.”
noun
1
The sensation produced when food or drink is detected by the tongue, or the ability to perceive it.
"The soup had a rich, salty taste."
"She lost her sense of taste after catching a cold."
"Lemon juice leaves a sharp, sour taste on the tongue."
2
A small sample of something, especially food or drink.
"Can I have a taste of your pasta?"
"Just a taste of the cake is enough for me."
"The shop gave customers a free taste of each cheese."
3
A person's preferences, especially regarding style, art, or fashion.
"Their apartment was decorated with impeccable taste."
"He has expensive taste in wine."
"I admire your taste in music, it is so varied."
verb
1
To sample the flavour of something, or to notice a flavour.
"Taste the sauce before you add more salt."
"I could taste garlic in almost every dish."
"She tasted the tea and added a spoonful of honey."
2
To experience something, especially briefly.
"After tasting success early, he never wanted to go back to his old job."
"The children tasted snow for the first time last winter."
"Few players ever taste victory on their first day in the league."
How to use taste
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat your tongue senses in food, a small sample of something, or a person's style/preferences.
Common pairings
good taste
acquired taste
taste of success
in poor taste
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Word forms
- Plural
- tastes
- Third person singular
- tastes
- Past tense
- tasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The soup had a rich, salty _____.
Etymology
From Old French taster, meaning to touch, feel, or taste, going back to a Latin word meaning to touch sharply — related to "tangent" and "tangible."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for taste
See all rhymes for taste →Frequently asked questions
What does “taste” mean?
The word “taste” means the sensation produced when food or drink is detected by the tongue, or the ability to perceive it. In plain terms, what your tongue senses in food, a small sample of something, or a person's style/preferences.
How do you pronounce “taste”?
“Taste” is pronounced tayst (/teɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “taste” in a sentence?
Here is “taste” used in a sentence: “The soup had a rich, salty taste.”
What is another word for “taste”?
Words with a similar meaning to “taste” include smatch, smake, smack and gust.
What part of speech is “taste”?
Depending on how it is used, “taste” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “taste” come from?
The word “taste” comes from Latin. From Old French taster, meaning to touch, feel, or taste, going back to a Latin word meaning to touch sharply — related to "tangent" and "tangible.".
Is “taste” a common word?
“Taste” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “taste” have?
“Taste” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the sensation produced when food or drink is detected by the tongue, or the ability to perceive it.
What is the difference between taste and flavour?
Taste is limited to what the tongue detects — the basic sensations of sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Flavour is the fuller experience, combining taste with smell, texture, and temperature. This is why food seems bland when your nose is blocked: you still taste it, but much of the flavour is lost.
What are the five basic tastes?
The tongue recognises five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami — the savoury taste found in foods like meat, cheese, and tomatoes. These combine, along with smell and texture, to create the countless flavours we experience. Some scientists argue that a fatty taste may be a sixth.
Can you lose your sense of taste?
Yes. Loss of taste, known as ageusia, can be caused by infections, certain medicines, smoking, nerve damage, or ageing. Colds and other illnesses that block the nose often dull taste too, because smell plays such a large part in it. In many cases the sense returns once the underlying cause clears up.
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