taste
B1Neutral, used across all registers from casual to formal.
Definition
Meaning
The sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth when eating or drinking.
A person's liking for or appreciation of something, often reflecting aesthetic or cultural judgment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun sense ranges from the physical sense (taste of food) to metaphorical judgment (good taste in art). The verb can mean to perceive flavour or to sample something briefly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Have a taste of this' is more common in the US for sampling food; 'try a bit of this' is more typical in UK casual speech. The verb 'taste' meaning 'to have a flavour' is identical in use.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] taste + adjective (It tastes good)[verb] taste + like + noun (It tastes like chicken)[verb] taste + of + noun (It tastes of garlic)[noun] a taste of + noun (a taste of freedom)[noun] in + possessive + taste (in my taste)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A taste of your own medicine”
- “There's no accounting for taste”
- “To leave a bad taste in the mouth”
- “To be in bad/poor taste”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to market trends or consumer preferences ('a taste for luxury goods').
Academic
In cultural studies, discussing aesthetics or societal norms ('changing tastes in literature').
Everyday
Discussing food, drink, or personal likes/dislikes ('I don't like the taste of coriander').
Technical
In food science or sommelier contexts, describing specific flavour profiles or components.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Can you taste the ginger in this cake?
- Taste it and tell me what you think.
- It just tastes of nothing.
American English
- Taste this sauce—does it need more salt?
- I can't taste anything with this cold.
- The water tastes funny here.
adverb
British English
- The room was tastefully decorated.
- He dresses very tastefully.
American English
- The meal was tastefully presented.
- She writes tastefully about difficult subjects.
adjective
British English
- A tasteful arrangement of flowers.
- That joke was rather tasteless.
American English
- She made a tasteful renovation to the old house.
- The advert was tasteless and offensive.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Sugar has a sweet taste.
- I don't like the taste of coffee.
- Taste the soup, please.
- She has expensive taste in clothes.
- This milk tastes sour.
- It was my first taste of life abroad.
- His comments were in very poor taste.
- The dressing leaves a sharp, lemony taste.
- She acquired a taste for olives while in Greece.
- The court's decision left a bitter taste in the mouths of the plaintiffs.
- His taste in art is nothing if not eclectic.
- The dish is an acquired taste, challenging the palate with its complexity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TASTE' as 'Tongue And Saliva Test Everything.'
Conceptual Metaphor
AESTHETIC JUDGMENT IS TASTE (e.g., 'He has excellent taste in music.'); EXPERIENCE IS FOOD (e.g., 'a taste of freedom').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'taste' for the physical sense of touch or feel (use 'texture' or 'feel').
- The Russian word 'вкус' can also mean 'style' in fashion; English 'taste' is the abstract capacity for judgment, not the specific style itself (e.g., 'She dresses with style', not '...with taste').
- Don't confuse 'It tastes good' (Оно вкусное) with 'It looks good' (Оно выглядит вкусно).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'This food is tasting good.' (State verb, use simple present) Correct: 'This food tastes good.'
- Incorrect: 'I am tasting the soup if it's salty.' (Testing flavour, use 'taste') Correct: 'I am tasting the soup to see if it's salty.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'taste' correctly as a state verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be both. As a state verb, it describes the flavour of something ('This tastes sweet'). As an action verb, it describes the activity of sampling ('He is tasting the different cheeses').
'Taste' refers specifically to the sensations detected by the tongue (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami). 'Flavour' is a broader term combining taste, smell (aroma), and mouthfeel.
Yes, but only when it is an intentional, active process of sampling, not when describing a passive, ongoing flavour. Correct: 'She is tasting the soup.' Incorrect: 'The soup is tasting good.'
It refers to something you learn to like over time, often because its flavour or style is initially strange or unpleasant (e.g., strong cheese, abstract art).
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.