palate
PAL-it
/ˈpælət/
A person's appreciation of taste and flavor; the roof of the mouth.
In a culinary context, it refers to the metaphorical 'sense' of taste and the ability to distinguish subtle flavors.
The story behind the word. Ancient Romans believed the roof of the mouth was the seat of the sense of taste. Over time, the physical part of the mouth became a metaphor for the intellectual ability to judge quality.
Word relationships
- taste: Taste is the basic sense; palate implies a more developed or sophisticated ability to judge flavors.
Commonly confused with
- palette: A palette is the board an artist uses to mix paints.
- pallet: A pallet is a wooden platform for moving goods or a straw mattress.
Word family
- palatable (adjective): Pleasant to taste; acceptable.
Collocations
- refined palate
- sophisticated palate
- cleansing the palate
- discerning palate
Idioms & expressions
- cleanse the palate
Example sentences
- "The wine was dry and crisp on the palate, with hints of green apple." Describing a wine's effect on the taster.
- "A trained palate is as necessary to a cook as a keen eye is to a painter." A famous food writer on the development of taste.
Memory hook
Your 'palate' is for 'plates' of food. The roof of your mouth is the judge of your food.
When not to use
Avoid using it when referring to the physical tongue itself; the palate is specifically the roof of the mouth or the abstract sense of taste.
Fun facts
- The word 'palatable' is often used in politics to describe an idea that is 'easy to swallow' or acceptable.
Related words
Explore more words
connoisseur, discerning, degustation, delicacy, savor, cultured
Also appears in
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