# taster

/ˈteɪstɝ/ (US) · /tˈeɪstɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/taster
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a person or animal that tries a small amount of food or drink to see if it is safe or good. In science, it can also mean a small sample of something to test its quality.

For teachers: an individual who samples a substance, typically food or drink, to assess its quality or safety. In a biological context, it refers to an organism that consumes a small quantity of a substance to determine its palatability or toxicity.

## Examples

- The chef offered a small taster of the new dessert to the guests.
- The restaurant provides a complimentary taster of their signature dish to every customer who enters the dining room.
- In evolutionary biology, the ability to detect bitter compounds often serves as a survival mechanism, allowing a taster to avoid potentially toxic plants before consuming them in larger quantities.

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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.