gustatory

American  

[guhs-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈgʌs təˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. of or relating to taste or tasting.

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Other Word Forms

• gustatorily adverb
• ungustatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of gustatory

1675–85; < Latin gustā ( re ) to taste + -tory ¹

Explanation

If you want to improve the gustatory appeal of a grapefruit, you might add a spoonful of sugar. Gustatory is an adjective that refers to tasting or the sense of taste. You may be tempted to link gustatory with the word gust, meaning "a quick, strong rush of wind." However, gustatory has its roots in the Latin gustare, meaning "to taste," while gust can be traced back to the Old Norse gustr, meaning to "to gush." But if a gust of wind brings with it the savory aroma of a nearby backyard barbecue, you might find yourself licking the air in gustatory frustration.

Example Sentences

For people cosplaying as a vacationer on the Amalfi Coast, there may be no better gustatory way to approximate the sensation.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2024

And yet, perhaps because of the strange diction, the phrase is more than just a gustatory command.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2024

“As always, I don’t want any special treatment. I want to be treated like everybody else,” he says in his video review, explaining why it didn’t feature the usual gustatory theater.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2023

The researchers have developed a simplified biomimetic version of this process, including an electronic "tongue" and an electronic "gustatory cortex" made with 2D materials, which are materials one to a few atoms thick.

From Science Daily • Oct. 4, 2023

While the old man in the underground prison had eaten well in North Korea, Park’s gustatory adventures were global.

From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden

Related Words

• audiovisual
• auditory
• aural
• neural
• neurological
• olfactory
• sensual
• sonic
• tactile
• visual