Tastes topic: What you need to know about Tastes | Tastes

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtastetaste1 /teɪst/ ●●● S2 W2 noun    1 food a) [countable, uncountable]TASTE OF FOOD OR DRINK the feeling that is produced by a particular food or drink when you put it in your mouth SYN flavour  The medicine had a slightly bitter taste.taste of  I don’t really like the taste of meat anymore. b) [uncountable]HB the sense by which you know one food from another  Some birds have a highly developed sense of taste. c) have a taste (of something)LITTLE/NOT MUCH if you have a taste of some food or drink, you put a small amount in your mouth to try it  You must have a taste of the fruitcake. 2 what you like [countable, uncountable]LIKE somebody OR something the kind of things that someone likestaste in  He asked about my taste in music.taste for  While she was in France she developed a taste for fine wines.3 judgment [uncountable]TASTE IN CLOTHES, MUSIC ETC someone’s judgment when they choose clothes, decorations etchave good/bad etc taste  She has such good taste.taste in  Some people have really bad taste in clothes. 4 what is acceptable/not offensive [uncountable] the quality of being acceptable and not offensive  All television companies accept the need to maintain standards of taste and decency.be in bad/poor etc taste (=likely to offend people)  She acknowledged her remark had been in bad taste.5 experienceEXPERIENCED [usually singular] a short experience of something that shows you what it is liketaste of  Schoolchildren can get a taste of the countryside first-hand.  It gave him his first taste of acting for the big screen.  The autumn storms gave us a taste of what was to come (=showed what would happen later).6 feeling [singular]UNPLEASANT the feeling that you have after an experience, especially a bad experience  The way he spoke to those children left a nasty taste in my mouth.  the bitter taste of failure  the sweet taste of victory 7 → ... to taste → give somebody a taste of their own medicineCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: adjectivesdeliciousThe taste was absolutely delicious.a delicious creamy tastenasty/unpleasantSome tablets have a nasty taste.strange/odd/peculiar/funnyThe sweets had a rather peculiar taste.strongThis cheese has quite a strong taste.mildThe taste of the leaves is milder than the root.sweetThe fruits have an excellent sweet taste.bitterThe brandy would not have masked the bitter taste of the poison.sourThe purpose of the lemon’s sour taste may be to stop the fruit being eaten by animals.saltyHe was conscious of the salty taste of his own blood.spicyAdd a little curry powder to give it a spicy taste.creamy/buttery/fruity/nutty etc (=tasting of cream, butter etc)The cookies had a very buttery taste.bland (=not strong or interesting)Some people find the taste of rice too bland.distinctiveHops give beer its distinctive bitter taste.verbshave a sweet/strange etc tasteThe soup had a funny taste.give something a tasteThe spices gave the bread a rather interesting taste. COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘it is sweet taste’ or ‘it is nice taste’. Say it has a sweet taste or it has a nice taste. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: the kind of things that someone likesadjectivessimilar/the sameWe have similar musical tastes.same/similar/differentTheir tastes in movies were very different.expensive/sophisticatedHe was a man of expensive tastes. (=he liked expensive things)simpleHe was a man of simple tastes (=liking simple things)eclectic (=liking a wide variety of different things)My tastes are very eclectic.musical/literary/artistic tasteHis musical tastes changed radically.your personal tasteWhich one you choose is a question of personal taste.public/popular tasteThe shop created a unique style of goods that appealed to the popular taste.an acquired taste (=something that people do not like at first)This kind of tea is an acquired taste, but very refreshing.consumer tastesChanges in consumer tastes result in the expansion of some industries and the contraction of others.verbshave ... tastesJosh and I have the same tastes.have a taste for something (=like something)She certainly has a taste for adventure.get/develop a taste for something (also acquire a taste for something formal) (=to start to like something)At university she developed a taste for performing.share a taste (=have the same taste as someone else)You obviously share her taste in literature.suit/satisfy/appeal to somebody’s tastes (=provide what someone likes)We have music to suit every taste.The magazine caters for all tastes.phrasesbe to somebody’s taste (=be something that someone likes)If her books are not to your taste, there are plenty of books by other writers.be too bright/modern etc for somebody’s tasteThe building was too modern for my taste.something is a matter of taste (=different people have different opinions about what is good or right)Which of the two methods you use is largely a matter of taste.there’s no accounting for taste (=used humorously to say that you do not understand why someone likes something) THESAURUSdescribing the taste of somethingdelicious having a very good tasteThis cake is delicious!a delicious mealdisgusting/revolting having a very bad tasteThe medicine tasted disgusting.They had to eat revolting things, like fish eyes.sweet tasting full of sugarThe oranges were very sweet.tasty especially spoken tasting good and with plenty of flavourShe cooked us a simple but tasty meal.That was really tasty!sour/tart having a taste that stings your tongue slightly, like lemon does – used especially when this is rather unpleasantThe apples were a little sour.The wine has rather a tart taste, which not everyone will like. tangy having a taste that stings your tongue slightly, like lemon does, in a way that seems goodThe dressing was nice and tangy.bitter having a strong taste which is not sweet and is sometimes rather unpleasant – used for example about black coffee, or chocolate without sugarbitter chocolateThe medicine had rather a bitter taste.Hops give beer its distinctive bitter taste.salty containing a lot of saltDanish salami has a salty flavour.hot/spicy having a burning taste because it contains strong spicesI love hot curries.a spicy tomato saucepiquant /ˈpiːkənt/ formal a little spicy – used especially by people who write about food. This word can sound rather pretentious in everyday conversationcooked vegetables in a piquant sauce mild not having a strong or hot taste – usually used about foods that can sometimes be spicya mild currybland not having an interesting tasteI found the sauce rather bland. Examples from the Corpustaste• Tastes in fiction vary from person to person.• Can I have a taste of your sundae?• Voice over Hay's booksellers justifiably boast that they cater for all tastes.• No one with any taste would buy a painting like that.• Alvin had had a brief taste of freedom and didn't want to live with his parents again.• One particular strain lives only in the San Francisco Bay Area and gives the sourdough bread from that region its distinctive taste.• The resort caters to people with expensive tastes.• She decided to become an actress after getting her first taste of fame in a local theatre production.• I can't understand why she likes it, but as they say, there's no accounting for taste.• I don't think much of his taste.• It's not necessarily better or worse, it's just a matter of taste.• Smoking can damage your sense of taste.• Computer agents will be able to organize passive viewing to our taste, acting as assemblers for virtual channels.• It believes, with some assistance from professionals, that planning can lead to an environment wholly to its own taste.• We have similar taste in music.• a sour taste• The flour gives a faintly sweet taste to the crust.• Have some water to take away the taste of the medicine.• I never drink beer, I just don't like the taste.• Oscar nominees have traditionally reflected the taste of the public.• The smell, the taste, can bring a moment of contentment as no other food can. taste for• A rafting trip through the Grand Canyon will satisfy your taste for adventure.have good/bad etc taste• If there must be a neighbour, let her have good taste.be in bad/poor etc taste• The Caption Competition, which usually gives me a source of amusement, in the Feb edition was in bad taste.• Your jest is in poor taste.• As long as any advert does not bring the profession into disrepute nor is in bad taste then it is permissible.• Did the producer, perhaps feel it to be in poor taste?gave ... taste• But that first dive gave me the taste.• Last month, its chief executive officer gave a taste of the kind of economic pressure the channel could face.• This gave Joan a taste of freedom, but not yet enough.• The Belfry was cold and wet, which gave us a taste of what was to come at Lytham.