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palate

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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English

Etymology

From Middle English palate, from Latin palātum (“roof of the mouth, palate”), perhaps of Etruscan origin.

Pronunciation

Noun

palate (plural palates)

  1. (anatomy) The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates. [from 14th c.]
    Synonym: uraniscus
    Hyponyms: hard palate, soft palate
    1. (zoology) A part associated with the mouth of certain invertebrates, somewhat analogous to the palate of vertebrates. [from 20th c.]
    2. (entomology, rare) The hypopharynx of an insect. [from 19th c.]
    3. (botany) A projection in the throat of certain bilabiate flowers as the snapdragon. [from 18th c.]
    4. (cooking, historical) The palate of an animal, as an item of food. [from 17th c.]
      • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, page 332:
        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.
  2. (figuratively) A person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavors. [from 14th c.]
  3. (figuratively) Mental relish; a liking or affinity for something. [from 15th c.]
    • 1656, Thomas Baker, he Wicked Mans Plot Defeated:
      entertain the palates of Nobles
  4. Taste or flavour, especially with reference to wine or other alcoholic drinks. [from 20th c.]
  5. (obsolete) A dainty article of food.
    • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson:
      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 honour to more important subjects.

Usage notes

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

palate (third-person singular simple present palates, present participle palating, simple past and past participle palated)

  1. (transitive, nonstandard) To relish; to find palatable.
    Synonym: stomach

Derived terms

References

Anagrams

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Italian

Etymology 1

Noun

palate f

  1. plural of palata

Etymology 2

Verb

palate

  1. inflection of palare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 3

Participle

palate f pl

  1. feminine plural of palato

Anagrams

Latin

Verb

pālāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of pālō

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French palat, from Latin palātum.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpalat/, /ˈpalət/

Noun

palate

  1. The palate; the top of the mouth (including the uvula).
  2. One's sense of taste (the palate was believed to be the source of this).

Descendants

  • English: palate

References

Romanian

Noun

palate n pl

  1. plural of palat

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