taster

American  

[tey-ster] / ˈteɪ stər /

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.

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taster British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• pretaster noun

Etymology

Origin of taster

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

Example Sentences

“We volunteer to be bread tasters,” Beowulf announced.

From Literature

The fruit was described as "sweet and very delicious," while the wine impressed tasters with its "subtle Muscat aroma and smooth drinking quality."

From Science Daily

Despite putting himself out there by going to taster sessions for various societies, he couldn't find his people.

From BBC

"I know what to expect with the audience... it was a bit of a taster run."

From BBC

Dunn explained that early evidence has repeatedly shown that there are different populations of so-called “sour tasters.”

From Salon

Related Words

• bowl
• drink
• mug