taste

Definition

One of the sensations produced by the tongue in response to certain chemicals; the quality of giving this sensation.

Etymology

From Middle English tasten, borrowed from Old French taster, from assumed Vulgar Latin *tastāre, from assumed Vulgar Latin *taxitāre, a new iterative of Latin taxāre (“to touch sharply”), from tangere (“to touch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g-. Almost displaced native Middle English smaken, smakien (“to taste”) (from Old English smacian (“to taste”)), Middle English smecchen (“to taste, smack”) (from Old English smæċċan (“to taste”)) (whence Modern English smack), Middle English buriȝen (“to taste”) (from Old English byrigan, birian (“to taste”)).

Example Sentences

• "He had a strange taste in his mouth."
• "Venison has a strong taste."
• "Like smell, taste has been found to imprint our minds with strong memories."