Definition of "palate"

palate

/ˈpæl.ət/

noun
plural palates
1. (anatomy) The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates.
  1. (zoology) A part associated with the mouth of certain invertebrates, somewhat analagous to the palate of vertebrates.
  2. (entomology, rare) The hypopharynx of an insect.
  3. (botany) A projection in the throat of certain bilabiate flowers as the snapdragon.
  4. (cooking, historical) The palate of an animal, as an item of food.
    Quotations
    I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising ‘Gordon's palates’ (a dish of palates at the Honourable Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done for honour to more important subjects.
    1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, page 332
2. (figuratively) A person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavors.
  Quotations
  Hard task! to hit the palate of such guests.
  1733–1737, Alexander Pope, [Imitations of Horace], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley [et al.]
3. (figuratively) Mental relish; a liking or affinity for something.
  Quotations
  entertain the palates of Nobles
  1656, Thomas Baker, he Wicked Mans Plot Defeated
4. Taste or flavour, especially with reference to wine or other alcoholic drinks.
verb
third-person singular simple present palates, present participle palating, simple past and past participle palated
1. (transitive, nonstandard) To relish; to find palatable.
  Quotations
  Not palating the taste of her dishonour
  c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i]
  "If it’s way out there, it’s hard to palate," said Sreenivasan.
  2013 October 10, Adam Mann, “Number Crunching Shows Old Movies Are More Creative Than New Ones”, in WIRED‎

Definition of "palate"

palate

noun

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verb

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