taste bud

noun

1. one of numerous small, flask-shaped bodies, chiefly in the epithelium of the tongue, which are the end organs for the sense of taste.

taste bud

noun

1. any of the elevated oval-shaped sensory end organs on the surface of the tongue, by means of which the sensation of taste is experienced

taste bud

1. Any of numerous sense organs in most vertebrate animals that are specialized to detect taste. Taste buds are sensitive to four types of taste: sweet, sour, salty, or bitter. In land vertebrates, the taste buds are found on the surface of the tongue. Fish have taste buds all over their bodies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of taste bud¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

After a long winter of braises and browns, this dish felt familiar yet surprising: comforting, beige at its base, but with a spark that made my sleepy taste buds sit up.

Read more on Salon

The kind that makes your mouth pucker and your tongue go numb from all the acids decimating your taste buds.

Read more on Salon

Just a little something to tickle my fickle taste buds.

Read more on Salon

"This is just the beginning of research to create climate resilient fruit and create a fruit that is acceptable to the Indian taste bud."

Read more on BBC

And there’s something about their salad dressing that is exactly what my taste buds want in a salad dressing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times