taster
B2Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A person who tastes food or drink, especially professionally, to judge its quality.
A small sample or preliminary experience of something, intended to give an idea of what the whole is like.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a person in the professional/sensory domain; the 'sample' meaning is metaphorical extension.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both meanings are used in both varieties. The professional role is more common in wine/food contexts in the UK. The 'sample' meaning (e.g., 'a taster of the course') is equally common.
Connotations
Professional taster implies expertise. 'Taster' as a sample is positive, suggesting a tempting preview.
Frequency
Similar frequency. Slightly more likely in UK food/wine journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (a taster of things to come)N for N (a taster for the new menu)Adj + N (professional taster)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A taster of things to come”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing for previews or sample products/services (e.g., 'a taster session').
Academic
Rare. May appear metaphorically in course descriptions (e.g., 'a taster lecture').
Everyday
Common for food/drink tasting and for describing a small experience of something new.
Technical
Specific to sensory science, viticulture, and food quality assurance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A (taster is not a verb). 'To taste' is the verb.
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (taster is not an adjective). 'Tasteful' or 'tasty' are adjectives.
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The chef is a good taster.
- This is a little taster of the cake.
- She worked as a tea taster for a big company.
- The first lesson is a free taster.
- The company employs a professional wine taster to ensure quality.
- The short film served as a taster of the director's upcoming feature.
- His palate was so refined he could have been a chief taster for a champagne house.
- The symposium offered a compelling taster of the cutting-edge research being conducted in the field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a WINE TASTER – the person who TASTES it professionally, or the small glass that offers a TASTE of the bottle.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS TASTING (to get a taster of a subject). QUALITY IS FLAVOUR (assessed by a taster).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'дегустатор' only for the person; for the 'sample' meaning, use 'пробник', 'предварительный опыт'.
- Do not directly translate 'taster' as 'вкусный' (tasty) – it's about the person/sample, not the quality of flavour.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'taster' to mean 'something tasty' (e.g., 'This cake is a good taster' – incorrect).
- Confusing spelling with 'taster' (noun) vs. 'tastier' (comparative adjective).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'taster' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Primarily a person who tastes professionally (noun). Secondarily, a small sample or experience of something (also a noun, metaphorical).
'Taste' is the sensory experience or flavour. A 'taster' is either the person who experiences that taste professionally, or a sample that provides that taste/experience.
No. The verb is 'to taste'. 'Taster' is only a noun.
Yes, particularly in quality control for food manufacturers, restaurants, and historically for safety (e.g., royal food taster). More specific titles like 'sensory analyst' or 'sommelier' are also used.