taste
/teɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /teɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtāst/ (ame, mw)
taste — noun
1. the particular quality that a food or drink has when it touches your tongue, or
the particular quality that a food or drink has when it touches your tongue, or the physical ability to notice this quality through your tongue and mouth.
This soup has a rich, creamy taste that comes from the coconut milk and fresh herbs.
taste + of + noun for flavour source
Léa lost her sense of taste after the bad cold and could not enjoy any of her favourite dishes.
sense of taste for the physical ability
The medicine had a bitter taste, so Felix held his nose while swallowing it.
Wine experts use their sense of taste to tell whether a bottle comes from France or Chile.
- tastelessness
the quality of having no flavour at all
文法句型
taste + of + noun
adjective + taste
用法筆記
When referring to the physical sense itself (not a specific flavour), 'taste' is uncountable: 'Loss of taste is a common symptom.' When referring to a specific flavour, it is countable: 'The sauce has a smoky taste.'
常見錯誤
2. a feeling of enjoyment or pleasure that you get from a particular activity, thin
a feeling of enjoyment or pleasure that you get from a particular activity, thing, or experience — for example, having a taste for adventure films or a taste for spicy food.
Rodrigo developed a taste for classical music after attending a live orchestra performance in Madrid.
develop/have a taste for + noun
The children had no taste for vegetables, so their mother hid carrots and spinach in the pasta sauce.
have no taste for — lack of liking
My taste for spicy food has grown over the years, and now I add chili to almost every meal.
Bilal's taste for photography took him on hiking trips across Morocco and Turkey.
- disgust
a strong feeling of not liking something at all
文法句型
taste for + noun/gerund
have a taste for
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'develop', 'acquire', 'have', or 'grow' to show change over time. Unlike 'hobby', 'a taste for' something suggests a learned or gradually-formed liking rather than an instant one.
3. a very small quantity of food or drink that you put into your mouth to try its f
a very small quantity of food or drink that you put into your mouth to try its flavour, or a small helping to see whether you like something.
Eri offered her brother a taste of the mango smoothie before pouring him a full glass.
a taste of [food/drink] — small sample
The chef gave each guest a taste of the new sauce on a small piece of bread.
give someone a taste of
Heloísa took one taste of the soup and decided it needed more salt and pepper.
Could I please have a taste of that cheese before I buy a whole block of it?
文法句型
have a taste of + noun
give + someone + a taste of
用法筆記
Used in shops and restaurants when a customer wants to try a small portion before buying. For drinks, 'a sip' is more specific; for solid food, 'a taste' or 'a bite' both work.
4. the things or qualities that a particular person likes or approves of; the perso
the things or qualities that a particular person likes or approves of; the personal choices that make someone prefer one type of thing over another.
Modern furniture is not to everyone's taste, but Sivan loves the clean lines and simple shapes.
to someone's taste — matching preferences
The shop offers books on cooking, travel, and history to suit a wide range of tastes.
suit/range of tastes — variety of preferences
Decorating the flat was difficult because Soraya and her flatmate had completely different tastes.
My brother loves horror films, but I cannot watch them — there is no accounting for taste.
- preference
more neutral and less evaluative; 'taste' often implies a personal, somewhat refined choice
- inclination
a slightly formal tendency to like something
- liking
more direct, less about a general pattern and more about a specific like
文法句型
to + someone's + taste
taste in + noun
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 6 (THINGS YOU LIKE) but more abstract: 'taste' here refers to the pattern of preferences rather than the specific items themselves. The idiom 'there is no accounting for taste' means it is impossible to explain why different people like different things.
5. the ability to recognise and choose what is appropriate, beautiful, or of high q
the ability to recognise and choose what is appropriate, beautiful, or of high quality in areas such as art, fashion, decor, and social behaviour.
Henry has excellent taste in interior design — his apartment was featured in a home magazine.
have good/excellent taste in [area]
Wearing a bright costume to a formal funeral would be considered very bad taste in most cultures.
bad/poor taste (social appropriateness)
The joke the comedian told was in poor taste, and several people in the audience walked out.
Sirin studied art history for years, and her taste in paintings is admired by everyone at the gallery.
- discernment
more formal and intellectual; suggests careful, educated judgment
- discrimination
formal; the ability to notice fine differences in quality
- refinement
suggests sophisticated, cultivated taste developed over time
- tastelessness
lack of good judgment in aesthetic or social matters; behaviour that is inappropriate
文法句型
have good/bad taste
in good/poor taste
用法筆記
Unlike sense 4 (PREFERENCE), this sense is evaluative: it implies a standard of quality. 'She has taste' is a compliment meaning she makes good choices. 'In bad/poor taste' is a fixed phrase for something socially or morally inappropriate.
常見錯誤
6. the particular kinds of music, books, films, clothes, or other things that a spe
the particular kinds of music, books, films, clothes, or other things that a specific person enjoys, considered as a set.
Felix and his sister share a taste in science fiction novels, so they swap books every month.
taste in [category] — specific set of likes
As teenagers grow up, their tastes in music and fashion often change dramatically.
tastes (plural) for evolving preferences
The streaming service uses an algorithm to recommend films based on your viewing tastes.
Rodrigo's tastes in food are quite simple — he prefers grilled meat and fresh salad over fancy restaurant dishes.
- preferences
more neutral; 'tastes' implies personality and identity
- likes
more informal; used especially online or in surveys
- interests
broader; not limited to aesthetic or cultural choices
文法句型
taste in + noun
tastes change
用法筆記
Unlike sense 4 (PREFERENCE), which is about the abstract quality of preferring things, this sense names the actual items enjoyed. The plural 'tastes' is very common here: 'his tastes in music'. Can also be singular when referring to one specific person's overall pattern of likes.
常見錯誤
7. a short period in which you experience something new, giving you a small idea of
a short period in which you experience something new, giving you a small idea of what it would be like to have more of it.
The internship gave Faisal a taste of what it is like to work in a hospital emergency room.
a taste of [experience] — short preview
Heloísa got a taste of the snowboarding thrill after just one week in the Alps.
get a taste of — gain brief experience
Living abroad for a summer gave the students a taste of independence before they started university.
The three-day workshop gave local farmers a taste of modern irrigation techniques used in drier climates.
文法句型
a taste of + noun
用法筆記
Always metaphorical — this sense has nothing to do with actual food. Common in career and life-experience contexts. Often followed by 'of' and a noun phrase describing the experience.
常見錯誤
taste — verb
- tastepresent simple I / you / we / they
- tastes3rd person singular
- tasting-ing form
- tastedpast simple
1. to put a small amount of food or drink into your mouth to check its flavour, hel
to put a small amount of food or drink into your mouth to check its flavour, helping you decide if you like it or if it is properly cooked.
The chef tasted the sauce with a clean spoon and added a pinch more salt.
taste + food/drink — testing flavour
Before you serve the soup, taste it to see whether it needs more pepper or lemon juice.
imperative: taste + it to check
Wren tasted the wine carefully, letting it sit on the tongue for a few seconds before swallowing.
The pastry chef asked Lea to taste the new chocolate tart and give her honest opinion.
文法句型
taste + noun phrase
taste + object
用法筆記
Unlike 'eat' or 'drink', 'taste' implies a small, testing quantity — you taste something to check its flavour, not to satisfy hunger. In restaurants, customers may 'taste' wine before ordering a full glass.
常見錯誤
2. when food or drink produces a certain flavour on your tongue — for example, a so
when food or drink produces a certain flavour on your tongue — for example, a soup that comes across as salty, or juice that reminds you of oranges.
The mangoes taste incredibly sweet because they were picked at the height of the summer season.
taste + adjective describing flavour
This tap water tastes like chlorine, so Bilal fills a jug and lets it sit in the fridge overnight.
taste like + noun — comparing flavour
The stew tastes strongly of garlic and rosemary, just the way grandmother used to make it.
Even fresh bread can taste bland if you do not add enough salt to the dough.
- have a flavour
more literal and less natural in everyday conversation
- savour of
formal or literary; suggests a rich or lingering flavour
文法句型
taste + adjective
taste like + noun
taste of + noun
用法筆記
A linking verb (like 'seem' or 'look') — it is followed by an adjective, not an adverb: 'it tastes good', NOT 'it tastes well'. 'Taste like' compares to another familiar flavour; 'taste of' suggests the actual ingredient.
常見錯誤
3. to have a short experience of something, especially something exciting, enjoyabl
to have a short experience of something, especially something exciting, enjoyable, or desirable — such as tasting success, tasting freedom, or tasting defeat.
After years of hard work, the young athlete finally tasted victory at the national championships.
taste + [success/victory/freedom] — abstract
The rescued hikers tasted freedom again when they reached the village after three days lost in the mountains.
During her exchange year in Japan, Soraya tasted a completely different way of life that changed her perspective.
The team tasted defeat for the first time this season after a series of twelve straight wins.
- experience
neutral and general; lacks the suggestion of brevity and intensity
- savour
suggests slow, deliberate enjoyment of the experience, not necessarily brief
- sample
also metaphorical; suggests a small preview
文法句型
taste + abstract noun phrase
用法筆記
Metaphorical extension of sense 1. Commonly used in sports, politics, and personal-development writing. The object is almost always an abstract noun: victory, success, freedom, power, defeat, failure. Not used for neutral or everyday experiences.