Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tastes, present participle tasting, past tense, past participle tasted
1. uncountable noun
Taste is one of the five senses that people have. When you have food or drink in your mouth, your sense oftaste makes it possible for you to recognize what it is.
...a keen sense of taste.
2. countable noun
The taste of something is the individual quality which it has when you put it in your mouthand which distinguishes it from other things. For example, something may have a sweet, bitter, sour, or salty taste.
I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up. [+ of]
The taste of blood in her throat made her want to vomit.
Nettles are surprisingly good–much like spinach but with a sweetish taste.
3. singular noun
If you have a taste of some food or drink, you try a small amount of it in order to see what the flavour is like.
Let them have a taste of cold food but I prefer mine hot. [+ of]
4. verb [no cont]
If food or drink tastesof something, it has that particular flavour, which you notice when you eat or drink it.
I drank a cup of tea that tasted of diesel. [Vof/like n]
It tastes like chocolate. [V + of/like]
The pizza tastes delicious without any cheese at all. [VERB adjective]
5. verb
If you taste some food or drink, you eat or drink a small amount of it in order to try its flavour,for example to see if you like it or not.
We tasted the water just to see how salty it was. [VERB noun]
Before proceeding any further, cut off a small bit of the meat and taste it. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: sample, try, test, relish More Synonyms of taste
6. verb [no passive]
If you can taste something that you are eating or drinking, you are aware of its flavour.
You can taste the chilli in the dish but it is a little sweet. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: distinguish, perceive, discern, differentiate More Synonyms of taste
7. singular noun
If you have a taste of a particular way of life or activity, you have a brief experience of it.
But having had a taste of the big time, he won't want to go back to playing in thereserves.
This voyage was his first taste of freedom. [+ of]
Synonyms: experience, contact with, exposure to, impression More Synonyms of taste
8. verb [no passive]
If you taste something such as a way of life or a pleasure, you experience it for a short period of time.
Anyone who has tasted this life wants it to carry on for as long as possible. [VERB noun]
9. singular noun
If you have a taste for something, you have a liking or preference for it.
She developed a taste for journeys to isolated hazardous regions in North America.
That gave me a taste for reading. [+ for]
Synonyms: liking, preference, penchant, fondness More Synonyms of taste
10. uncountable noun
A person's taste is their choice in the things that they like or buy, for example their clothes, possessions, or music. If you say that someone has good taste, you mean that you approve of their choices. If you say that they have poor taste, you disapprove of their choices.
His taste in clothes is extremely good. [+ in]
Oxford's social circle was far too liberal for her taste.
...a large family with different tastes and preferences.
How could so many people have such bad taste in music?
11.
See in bad/good/etc taste
12.
See to taste
More Synonyms of taste
taste in British English
(teɪst)
noun
1.
the sense by which the qualities and flavour of a substance are distinguished by the taste buds
2.
the sensation experienced by means of the taste buds
3.
the act of tasting
4.
a small amount eaten, drunk, or tried on the tongue
5.
a brief experience of something
a taste of the whip
6.
a preference or liking for something; inclination
to have a taste for danger
7.
the ability to make discerning judgments about aesthetic, artistic, and intellectual matters; discrimination
to have taste
8.
judgment of aesthetic or social matters according to a generally accepted standard
bad taste
9.
discretion; delicacy
that remark lacks taste
10. obsolete
the act of testing
verb
11.
to distinguish the taste of (a substance) by means of the taste buds
12. (usually tr)
to take a small amount of (a food, liquid, etc) into the mouth, esp in order to test the quality
to taste the wine
13. (often foll by of)
to have a specific flavour or taste
the tea tastes of soap
this apple tastes sour
14. (whenintr, usually foll by of)
to have an experience of (something)
to taste success
15. (transitive) an archaic word for enjoy
16. (transitive) obsolete
to test by touching
Derived forms
tasteable (ˈtasteable) or tastable (ˈtastable)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French taster, ultimately from Latin taxāre to appraise
taste in American English
(teɪst)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈtasted or ˈtasting
1. Obsolete
to test by touching
2.
to test the flavor of by putting a little in one's mouth
3.
to detect or distinguish the flavor of by the sense of taste
to taste sage in a dressing
4.
to eat or drink, esp. a small amount of
5.
to receive the sensation of, as for the first time; experience; have
to have tasted freedom at last
6. Archaic
to appreciate; like
verb intransitive
7.
to discern or recognize flavors by the sense of taste; have the sense of taste
8.
to eat or drink a small amount (of)
9.
to have the specific taste or flavor
sometimes with of
the milk tastes sour; the salad tastes of garlic
10.
to have a sensation, limited experience, or anticipating sense (of something)
noun
11. Obsolete
a.
a test; trial
b.
the act of tasting
12.
that one of the five senses that is stimulated by contact of a substance with the taste buds and is capable of distinguishing basically among sweet, sour, salt, and bitter: the flavor of any specific substance is usually recognized by its combined taste, smell, and texture
13.
the quality of a thing that is perceived through the sense of taste; flavor; savor
14.
a small amount put into the mouth to test the flavor
15.
the distinguishing flavor of a substance
a chocolate taste
16.
a slight experience of something; sample
to get a taste of another's anger
17.
a small amount; bit; trace
18.
a.
the ability to notice, appreciate, and judge what is beautiful, appropriate, or harmonious, or what is excellent in art, music, decoration, clothing, etc.
b.
a specific preference; predilection
a taste for red ties
c.
an attitude or a style reflecting such ability or preferences on the part of a group of people of a particular timeand place
19.
a liking; inclination; bent
to have no taste for business
Idioms:
in (good, poor, etc.) taste
to one's taste
Word origin
ME tasten < OFr taster, to handle, touch, taste < VL *tastare, prob. < *taxitare, freq. of L taxare, to feel, touch sharply, judge of, freq. of tangere: see tact
taste in Hospitality
(teɪst)
Word forms: (present) tastes, (past) tasted, (perfect) tasted, (progressive) tasting
verb
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)
If you taste some food or drink, you eat or drink a small amount of it in order to try its flavor,for example, to see if you like it or not.
Taste the food as you cook it and adjust the flavorings if necessary.
Invite the customer to taste the wine before you pour it.
Taste the soup before you add any more salt.
More idioms containing
taste
taste blood
there's no accounting for taste
something leaves a bad taste in your mouth
give someone a taste of their own medicine
COBUILD Collocations
taste
metallic taste
musical taste
personal taste
sour taste
sweet taste
Examples of 'taste' in a sentence
taste
They have no nutritional value and might distort your taste for real food.
The Sun (2017)
The fact that they have lost their money without getting a run leaves a bad taste.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The challenge is to make it taste good.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But it leaves a particularly bad taste in my mouth.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Work gives you confidence, drive and a taste for buying the things you want!
The Sun (2016)
It tastes like mashed potatoes, wetter.
The Sun (2017)
Until he tasted the drink.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The result is a tortilla of wondrous flavour, the tastes and smells of all of Mexico distilled into a single bite.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This person will help you fulfil your ambitions and enjoy a taste of fame.
The Sun (2014)
The site brings together people with similar tastes in the same geographical area.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Your skin is getting warmer and your sense of taste and smell have improved.
The Sun (2007)
The side effects are that it leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.
Alexander Masters STUART: A Life Backwards (2005)
They all turn out to have different tastes and requirements.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Do not boil the sauce again or it may split and taste bitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is giving me a little taste of what life could be like.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Who decides what is good taste and what is bad?
The Sun (2014)
Who is the most famous person to have tasted your food?
The Sun (2014)
You need to drink the coffee and then think what it tastes like.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet the whole situation has left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
The Sun (2011)
It was as if it had got a taste for blood.
The Sun (2010)
They should use some of that money to buy some taste.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why not experiment with it this winter for healthy eating that tastes great?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Taste it and tweak the flavours until it tastes right for you.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What a treat should taste like can vary a lot around the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thousands of university students are getting their first taste of financial freedom this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This also means that you experience the real taste of vegetables.
The Sun (2012)
Sending a food critic to report on a famine was just bad taste.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When first tasted early in the year it seemed dull and very flat.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
They had to wait six years before they were able finally to enjoy the sweet taste of success.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Thus people with a taste for great variety will be more likely to become entrepreneurs with lower incomes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They had taken the lady of the forest and minced her into something tasting mostly of ketchup and pickles.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has style, grace and expensive taste in clothes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
Taste is the only morality. Tell me what you like, and I'll tell you who you areJohn Ruskin
Taste is the enemy of creativenessPablo Picasso
There's no accounting for tastes
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
One man's meat is another man's poison
In other languages
taste
British English: taste /teɪst/ NOUN
sense Your sense of taste is your ability to recognize the flavour of things with your tongue.
...an excellent sense of taste.
American English: taste
Arabic: ذَوْق
Brazilian Portuguese: gosto
Chinese: 味道
Croatian: okus
Czech: chuť
Danish: smag
Dutch: smaak
European Spanish: gusto sabor
Finnish: maku
French: goût
German: Geschmack
Greek: γεύση
Italian: gusto
Japanese: 味
Korean: 맛
Norwegian: smak
Polish: smak
European Portuguese: gosto
Romanian: gust
Russian: вкус
Latin American Spanish: gusto sabor
Swedish: smak
Thai: รสชาติ
Turkish: tat
Ukrainian: смак
Vietnamese: vị nếm
British English: taste /teɪst/ VERB
If food or drink tastes of something, it has that particular flavour.
The tea tasted of lemon.
American English: taste
Arabic: يَتَذَوَّقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: saber
Chinese: 品尝
Croatian: imati okus
Czech: chutnat
Danish: smage
Dutch: proeven
European Spanish: saber
Finnish: maistaa
French: avoir le goût de
German: schmecken
Greek: γεύομαι
Italian: assaggiare
Japanese: 味をみる
Korean: 맛보다
Norwegian: smake
Polish: skosztować
European Portuguese: saber
Romanian: a avea gust de
Russian: пробовать
Latin American Spanish: degustar
Swedish: smaka
Thai: มีรสชาติ
Turkish: tatmak
Ukrainian: мати смак
Vietnamese: có vị
British English: taste NOUN
choice A person's taste is their choice in the things that they like or buy, for example, their clothes, possessions, or music.
His taste in clothes is extremely good.
American English: taste
Brazilian Portuguese: gosto
Chinese: 味觉
European Spanish: gusto
French: goût
German: Geschmack
Italian: gusto
Japanese: 味覚
Korean: 미각
European Portuguese: gosto
Latin American Spanish: gusto
All related terms of 'taste'
taste bud
Your taste buds are the little points on the surface of your tongue which enable you to recognize the flavour of a food or drink.
to taste
When a recipe tells you to add a particular spice or other flavouring to taste , it means that you can add as much of that ingredient as you like .
sour taste
The taste of something is the individual quality which it has when you put it in your mouth and which distinguishes it from other things. For example , something may have a sweet, bitter , sour , or salty taste.
sweet taste
The taste of something is the individual quality which it has when you put it in your mouth and which distinguishes it from other things. For example, something may have a sweet, bitter , sour , or salty taste.
taste blood
to have a small victory which encourages you to think that you can defeat your opponent completely
taste glory
Glory is the fame and admiration that you gain by doing something impressive .
musical taste
A person's taste is their choice in the things that they like or buy , for example their clothes , possessions , or music. If you say that someone has good taste , you mean that you approve of their choices. If you say that they have poor taste , you disapprove of their choices.
acquired taste
If you describe something as an acquired taste , you mean that a lot of people do not like it when they first experience it, but often start to like it more when they get to know it better .
metallic taste
The taste of something is the individual quality which it has when you put it in your mouth and which distinguishes it from other things. For example, something may have a sweet , bitter, sour , or salty taste.
personal taste
A person's taste is their choice in the things that they like or buy , for example their clothes, possessions , or music. If you say that someone has good taste , you mean that you approve of their choices. If you say that they have poor taste , you disapprove of their choices.
taste a dish
Food that is prepared in a particular style or combination can be referred to as a dish .
to one's taste
pleasing to one
aftertaste
An aftertaste is a taste that remains in your mouth after you have finished eating or drinking something.
in bad/good/etc taste
If you say that something that is said or done is in bad taste or in poor taste , you mean that it is offensive , often because it concerns death or sex and is inappropriate for the situation . If you say that something is in good taste , you mean that it is not offensive and that it is appropriate for the situation.
in (good, poor, etc.) taste
in a form, style, or manner showing a (good, poor , etc.) sense of beauty , excellence , fitness , propriety , etc.
a taste of one's own medicine
an unpleasant experience in retaliation for and by similar methods to an unkind or aggressive act
there's no accounting for taste
said to mean that you think that what someone likes is unpleasant or strange
give someone a taste of their own medicine
to do the same bad thing to someone that they have done to you
something leaves a bad taste in your mouth
said to mean that something that someone does makes you feel angry or disgusted with them because it was a very unpleasant thing to do
give someone a dose of his or her own medicine
to repay or punish a person for an injury by use of the offender's own methods
Chinese translation of 'taste'
taste
(teɪst)
n
(u) (= sense) 味觉(覺) (wèijué)
(c) (= flavour) 味道 (wèidào) (种(種), zhǒng)
(c) (= sample) 尝(嘗)试(試) (chángshì) (次, cì)
(s) (fig)[of suffering, freedom etc]体(體)验(驗) (tǐyàn)
(u) (= choice, liking) 品位 (pǐnwèi)
vt
(= get flavour of) 尝(嘗) (cháng)
(= test, detect) 品尝(嘗) (pǐncháng)
vi
to taste of/like sth有/像某物的味道 (yǒu/xiàng mǒuwù de wèidào)
to develop or acquire a taste for sth养(養)成对(對)某物的爱(愛)好 (yǎngchéng duì mǒuwù de àihào)
to have good/bad taste品位高/差 (pǐnwèi gāo/chà)
to be in good/bad taste[remark, joke]格调(調)高雅/低俗 (gédiào gāoyǎ/dīsú)
to taste delicious/bitter尝(嘗)起来(來)好吃/苦 (cháng qǐlái hǎo chī/kǔ)