Library / English Dictionary

TASTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds

Example:

a wine tasting

Synonyms:

taste; tasting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

perception; sensing (becoming aware of something via the senses)

Derivation:

taste (perceive by the sense of taste)

taste (distinguish flavors)

taste (have flavor; taste of something)

taste (have a distinctive or characteristic taste)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth

Example:

his cold deprived him of his sense of taste

Synonyms:

gustation; gustatory modality; sense of taste; taste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

modality; sense modality; sensory system (a particular sense)

exteroception (sensitivity to stimuli originating outside of the body)

Derivation:

taste (perceive by the sense of taste)

taste (distinguish flavors)

taste (have flavor; taste of something)

taste (have a distinctive or characteristic taste)

tasty (pleasing to the sense of taste)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus

Example:

the melon had a delicious taste

Synonyms:

gustatory perception; gustatory sensation; taste; taste perception; taste sensation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

aesthesis; esthesis; sensation; sense datum; sense experience; sense impression (an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taste"):

flavor; flavour; nip; relish; sapidity; savor; savour; smack; tang (the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth)

sugariness; sweet; sweetness (the taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth)

sour; sourness; tartness (the taste experience when vinegar or lemon juice is taken into the mouth)

bitter; bitterness (the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth)

salinity; salt; saltiness (the taste experience when common salt is taken into the mouth)

astringence; astringency (a sharp astringent taste; the taste experience when a substance causes the mouth to pucker)

finish ((wine tasting) the taste of a wine on the back of the tongue (as it is swallowed))

flatness (a deficiency in flavor)

mellowness (a taste (especially of fruit) that is ripe and of full flavor)

Derivation:

taste (have a distinctive or characteristic taste)

taste (have flavor; taste of something)

taste (distinguish flavors)

taste (perceive by the sense of taste)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Delicate discrimination (especially of aesthetic values)

Example:

to ask at that particular time was the ultimate in bad taste

Synonyms:

appreciation; discernment; perceptiveness; taste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

discrimination; secernment (the cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished)

Attribute:

tasteless (lacking aesthetic or social taste)

tasteful (having or showing or conforming to good taste)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taste"):

culture (the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group)

delicacy; discretion (refined taste; tact)

style; trend; vogue (the popular taste at a given time)

connoisseurship; vertu; virtu (love of or taste for fine objects of art)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A brief experience of something

Example:

she enjoyed her brief taste of independence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

experience (an event as apprehended)

Derivation:

taste (experience briefly)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A strong liking

Example:

the Irish have a penchant for blarney

Synonyms:

penchant; predilection; preference; taste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

liking (a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taste"):

acquired taste (a preference that is only acquired after considerable experience)

weakness (a penchant for something even though it might not be good for you)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A small amount eaten or drunk

Example:

take a taste--you'll like it

Synonyms:

mouthful; taste

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("taste" is a kind of...):

small indefinite amount; small indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taste"):

bit; bite; morsel (a small amount of solid food; a mouthful)

sup; swallow (a small amount of liquid food)

Holonyms ("taste" is a part of...):

helping; portion; serving (an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal)

Derivation:

taste (take a sample of)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Experience briefly

Example:

The ex-slave tasted freedom shortly before she died

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "taste" is one way to...):

experience; know; live (have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

taste (a brief experience of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take a sample of

Example:

Sample the regional dishes

Synonyms:

sample; taste; try; try out

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "taste" is one way to...):

consume; have; ingest; take; take in (serve oneself to, or consume regularly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "taste"):

degust (taste with relish)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They taste more bread

Derivation:

tasting (a small amount (especially of food or wine))

tasting (taking a small amount into the mouth to test its quality)

taster (someone who samples food or drink for its quality)

taste (a small amount eaten or drunk)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Perceive by the sense of taste

Example:

Can you taste the garlic?

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "taste" is one way to...):

comprehend; perceive (to become aware of through the senses)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "taste"):

savor; savour (taste appreciatively)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

taste (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

taste (the faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth)

taste (the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus)

tasting (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Distinguish flavors

Example:

We tasted wines last night

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "taste" is one way to...):

identify (consider to be equal or the same)

"Taste" entails doing...:

taste (perceive by the sense of taste)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

taster (someone who samples food or drink for its quality)

taste (the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus)

taste (the faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth)

taste (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Have flavor; taste of something

Synonyms:

savor; savour; taste

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "taste"):

smack; taste (have a distinctive or characteristic taste)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s Adjective/Noun

Sentence example:

The food does taste good

Derivation:

taste (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

taste (the faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth)

taste (the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Have a distinctive or characteristic taste

Example:

This tastes of nutmeg

Synonyms:

smack; taste

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "taste" is one way to...):

savor; savour; taste (have flavor; taste of something)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

taste (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

taste (the faculty of distinguishing sweet, sour, bitter, and salty properties in the mouth)

taste (the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus)

tasting (a kind of sensing; distinguishing substances by means of the taste buds)

Credits

 Context examples: 

They found that those with deficiencies in pathways that sense touch, light, taste, and oxygen could still detect magnetic fields.

(Magnetic Field Sensor Unearthed in Worms, NIH)

He had always a taste for low company.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It tasted salt on his lips, and the taste was good.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I observed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I was like a wild beast then that had tasted blood.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But when he saw it he could not deny himself the pleasure of tasting it, so he cut of a little bit and put it into his mouth.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

"What a pity it is, Elinor," said Marianne, "that Edward should have no taste for drawing."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I give you my word that for three days I have tasted neither food nor drink until you were good enough to pour me out that glass of water.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You don't catch me tasting rum so much, but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the first chance I have.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“Maybe you are come to a place that will not prove much to your taste, but you will not be consulted as to your quarters, I promise you.”

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)