taster

[ tey-ster ]

noun

1. a person who tastes, especially one skilled in distinguishing the qualities of liquors, tea, etc., by the taste.
2. a container for taking samples or tasting.
3. a wide shallow cup, usually metal, for holding wine to be tasted, as by a professional taster.
4. a person employed or ordered to taste the food and drink prepared for a king, dictator, etc., to ascertain the presence of poison.
5. Genetics. a person able to taste phenylthiourea or some other test substance.

taster

/ ˈteɪstə /

noun

1. a person who samples food or drink for quality
2. any device used in tasting or sampling
3. a person employed, esp formerly, to taste food and drink prepared for a king, etc, to test for poison
4. a sample or preview of a product, experience, etc, intended to stimulate interest in the product, experience, etc, itself

   the single serves as a taster for the band's new album

Other Words From

• pre·taster noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of taster¹

1350–1400; Middle English tastour < Anglo-French. See taste, -er ¹

Example Sentences

By the end of his life, he was one of the world’s most respected and loved figures in the wine industry — an expert, merchant, educator, writer, taster and even a winemaker in England.

From Washington Post

Another taster, Odette Kahn, resorted to a Trumpian argument — the tasting was rigged.

From Washington Post

Pepperidge Farm Thin and CrispyThe bag says “thin & crispy,” which is exactly how tasters found this number from cookie powerhouse Pepperidge Farm.

From Washington Post

There is also a free seven-day trial to get a taster of lesson content before committing to shell out.

From TechCrunch

A decent way to do this is to try out a subscription service that will ship multiple taster roasts.

From Popular-Science

The incredible memoirs of Hitler's last surviving food taster, now 95, as told to Der Spiegel.

From The Daily Beast

One must be grateful that our Massachusetts Dovers cannot be dampened by this original potato-taster.

From Project Gutenberg

A conscientious taster—faithful, diligent, she reached the amazing speed of forty pickles a minute, and all done well.

From Project Gutenberg

I have been his cupbearer and taster, and as frequently shared his outdoor sports; now hunting with hawk, and now with hound.

From Project Gutenberg

The year past, the Gnat—subtle taster—was slowly winging his way back when he met the Swallow.

From Project Gutenberg

There are times when the Puritan element disappears; and it is Hazlitt the eager, curious taster of life that is presented to us.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bowl
• drink
• mug