palate
- 01 C1 Advanced
the top part of the inside of your mouth.
the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities in vertebrates.
Simple“The hot soup burned the roof of his palate, making it painful to eat.”
In context“The surgeon performed a delicate procedure to repair the patient's cleft palate, ensuring better speech and swallowing function.”
PitfallThe artist mixed colors on his palate. The artist mixed colors on his palette.Do not confuse 'palate' (mouth/taste) with 'palette' (artist's board) or 'pallet' (wooden shipping platform).
Synonymsroof of the mouth - 02 C2 Proficiency
the specific flavor or character of a food or drink.
the range of flavors or the specific taste profile of a foodstuff, particularly wine.
Simple“This white wine has a very clean, fruity palate with a hint of lemon.”
In context“The chef designed the tasting menu to offer a balanced palate, transitioning smoothly from acidic starters to rich, savory main courses.”
“And, sure, those are delicious in their own way, but it’s the wacky and viral stuff that are sure to make a bigger impact on the palate.”
From Middle English palate, from Latin palātum (“roof of the mouth, palate”), perhaps of Etruscan origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.