taste bud

American  

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.

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taste bud British  

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

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taste bud Scientific  

/ tāst /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of taste bud

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2025

The team found that participants who took semaglutide had improved taste sensitivity along with changes to their taste bud gene expression and brain activity after eating something sweet.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2024

The sweet taste receptor, expressed in taste bud cells, conveys sweetness from the mouth when it is activated.

From Science Daily • May 17, 2024

Others have argued that Grimace is a giant taste bud.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

There are plenty of options for every taste bud.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2023