Taste

Taste, tāst, v.t. to try or perceive by the touch of the tongue or palate: to try by eating a little: to eat a little of: to partake of: to relish, enjoy: to experience: (Shak.) to enjoy carnally.—v.i. to try or perceive by the mouth: to have a flavour of.—n. the act or sense of tasting: the particular sensation caused by a substance on the tongue: the sense by which we perceive the flavour of a thing: the quality or flavour of anything: a small portion: intellectual relish or discernment: the faculty by which the mind perceives the beautiful: nice perception: choice, predilection.—adjs. Tāst′able, that may be tasted; Taste′ful, full of taste: having a high relish: showing good taste.—adv. Taste′fully.—n. Taste′fulness.—adj. Taste′less, without taste: insipid.—adv. Taste′lessly.—ns. Taste′lessness; Tāst′er, one skilful in distinguishing flavours by the taste: one whose duty it is to test the quality of food by tasting it before serving it to his master.—adv. Tāst′ily, with good taste, neatly.—n. Tāst′ing, the act or sense of tasting.—adj. Tāst′y, having a good taste: possessing nice perception of excellence: in conformity with good taste.—To one's taste, to one's liking, agreeable. [O. Fr. taster (Fr. tâter), as if from Low L. taxitāre—L. taxāre, to touch repeatedly, to estimate—tangĕre, to touch.]