# taste

/ˈteɪst/ (US) · /tˈeɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/taste
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. flavour

noun · CEFR A2

the flavour of a food or drink that you notice in your mouth.

For teachers: the sensation produced by a substance in the mouth, typically perceived by the tongue.

- The soup has a very strong taste of garlic and herbs.
- The chef adjusted the seasoning to ensure the delicate taste of the sea bass was not overwhelmed by the citrus reduction.

### 2. the sense

noun · CEFR B1

the ability to notice different flavours in your mouth.

For teachers: the physiological faculty of perceiving the flavour of substances.

- A bad cold can make you lose your sense of taste for a few days.
- The patient reported a diminished sense of taste following the course of medication, though doctors expected a full recovery within weeks.

### 3. a small amount

noun · CEFR B1

a small amount of food or drink that you try to see if you like it.

For teachers: a small portion of food or drink taken as a sample.

- Would you like a taste of the sauce to see if it needs more salt?
- She offered him a taste of the vintage wine before pouring a full glass for the rest of the guests.

### 4. personal preference

noun · CEFR B1

the things you like, such as your style in clothes, music, or art.

For teachers: an individual's aesthetic preferences or the ability to discern what is high quality.

- We have very different tastes in music, but we both love the same films.
- Her apartment was decorated with impeccable taste, blending modern minimalist furniture with bold, classical artwork.

### 5. brief experience

noun · CEFR B2

a short experience of something that helps you understand what it is like.

For teachers: a brief or initial experience of something, providing a representative sample of the whole.

- The first week of the job gave her a taste of what the busy season would be like.
- The introductory workshop provided the students with a taste of advanced calculus, encouraging several to pursue the subject further.

### 6. to sample flavour

verb · CEFR A2

to put a small amount of food or drink in your mouth to find out its flavour.

For teachers: to perceive or test the flavour of something by taking it into the mouth.

- You should taste the milk to make sure it is still fresh.
- The sommelier tasted the wine to ensure it had reached the appropriate temperature before serving it to the table.

### 7. to have a flavour

verb · CEFR A2

to have a particular flavour when someone eats or drinks it.

For teachers: to produce a specific gustatory sensation; used as a copular verb.

- This cake tastes delicious and is very light.
- The water tasted slightly of minerals, suggesting it had been sourced from a deep underground spring rather than the local reservoir.

Usage: This is a stative verb and is not usually used in the continuous (-ing) form.

## Examples

- The soup has a very salty taste.
- I do not really like the taste of olives, but my sister thinks they are delicious.
- Her refined taste in interior design is evident in the way she balances modern minimalist furniture with vibrant antique textiles.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.