tasting
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of sampling or experiencing the flavour of something, typically food or drink.
A social event where food or drink is sampled; more generally, any experience or trial that allows one to assess the quality or nature of something (e.g., a 'taste of freedom').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Tasting" as a noun refers to the event or activity itself. It can also be the present participle or gerund form of the verb 'to taste.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is consistent. The word 'tasting' for an event (e.g., wine tasting) is equally common in both dialects. American English might more readily use 'tasting' in compound adjectives like 'tasting-menu' for a restaurant offering.
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to cultural emphasis on formal tea and whisky tastings, though equally common in the US for wine and food events.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be + tasting + [Object] (sensory verb)[Subject] + organise/host + a + tasting[Subject] + attend/go to + a + tastingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A tasting menu”
- “Leave a bad taste in one's mouth (figurative, not directly using 'tasting')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing, hospitality, and food & beverage industries for product launch events or quality control.
Academic
Used in sensory science, gastronomy, and oenology studies.
Everyday
Used for social events, restaurant experiences, or trying new foods at home.
Technical
Used in professional culinary arts and viticulture for structured evaluation of flavours, aromas, and mouthfeel.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
- I've been tasting different whiskies all afternoon.
American English
- He's tasting the sauce before serving it.
- They'll be tasting the new craft beers tomorrow.
adverb
British English
- This is not used. 'Tasting' does not function as a standard adverb.
American English
- This is not used. 'Tasting' does not function as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- We booked a tasting menu at the new restaurant.
- The tasting notes described hints of blackberry.
American English
- The brewery offers a tasting flight of four beers.
- She works on the tasting panel for the magazine.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We went to a chocolate tasting. It was fun!
- I am tasting my tea. It is hot.
- The supermarket is having a free wine tasting this Friday.
- She suggested tasting the local cheese while we're in the region.
- A blind tasting was organised to judge the new vintages without bias.
- After tasting several options, we finally selected the caterer for the wedding.
- The sommelier's nuanced tasting of the Bordeaux revealed its complex terroir.
- The novel offers the reader a chilling tasting of life under a totalitarian regime.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TASTING' as 'TASTE' + 'ING' – the ongoing action of using your taste buds.
Conceptual Metaphor
TASTING IS EXPERIENCING / TASTING IS JUDGING (e.g., 'tasting success').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'degustaciya' (дегустация) which is a direct cognate but sounds very formal in Russian, whereas 'tasting' in English is neutral. Do not translate as 'vkus' (вкус) which means 'taste/flavour'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tasting' as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'We went to tasting' instead of 'We went to a tasting').
- Confusing the noun 'a tasting' with the continuous verb form 'is tasting'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'tasting' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core use is for consuming food/drink to judge flavour. Figuratively, it can be used for other experiences (e.g., 'a tasting of freedom'), but this is less common.
They are very similar. 'Taste testing' often implies a more evaluative or comparative purpose, like in product development, while 'tasting' can be purely for enjoyment or education at an event.
Yes, as a verb. For example: 'He is tasting the wine.' However, as a sensory verb, it is less commonly used in the continuous for permanent states (we say 'This tastes good,' not 'This is tasting good').
Similar, but not identical. A 'tasting menu' specifically consists of many small courses designed to showcase the chef's skills and allow tasting of various dishes. A 'set menu' is a fixed-price meal with fewer, standard-sized courses.