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Wiktionary

palate

English

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Etymology

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From Middle English palate, from Latin palātum (“roof of the mouth, palate”), perhaps of Etruscan origin.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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palate (plural palates)

  1. (anatomy) The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates. [from 14th c.]
    Synonym: uraniscus
    Hyponyms: hard palate, soft palate
    1. (zoology) A part associated with the mouth of certain invertebrates, somewhat analagous to the palate of vertebrates. [from 20th c.]
    2. (entomology, rare) The hypopharynx of an insect. [from 19th c.]
    3. (botany) A projection in the throat of certain bilabiate flowers as the snapdragon. [from 18th c.]
    4. (cooking, historical) The palate of an animal, as an item of food. [from 17th c.]
      • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, page 332:
        I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising ‘Gordon's palates’ (a dish of palates at the Honourable Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done for honour to more important subjects.
  2. (figuratively) A person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavors. [from 14th c.]
    • 1733–1737, Alexander Pope, [Imitations of Horace], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley [et al.]:
      Hard task! to hit the palate of such guests.
  3. (figuratively) Mental relish; a liking or affinity for something. [from 15th c.]
    • 1656, Thomas Baker, he Wicked Mans Plot Defeated:
      entertain the palates of Nobles
  4. Taste or flavour, especially with reference to wine or other alcoholic drinks. [from 20th c.]
  5. (obsolete) A dainty article of food.
    • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson:
      I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising 'Gordon's palates,' (a dish of palates at the Honourable Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done honour to more important subjects.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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palate (third-person singular simple present palates, present participle palating, simple past and past participle palated)

  1. (transitive, nonstandard) To relish; to find palatable.
    Synonym: stomach
    • c. 1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
      Not palating the taste of her dishonour
    • 2013 October 10, Adam Mann, “Number Crunching Shows Old Movies Are More Creative Than New Ones”, in WIRED‎[1]:
      "If it’s way out there, it’s hard to palate," said Sreenivasan.

Derived terms

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References

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Anagrams

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Italian

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Etymology 1

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Noun

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palate f

  1. plural of palata

Etymology 2

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Verb

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palate

  1. inflection of palare:
    1. second-person plural present indicative
    2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 3

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Participle

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palate f pl

  1. feminine plural of palato

Anagrams

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Latin

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Verb

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pālāte

  1. second-person plural present active imperative of pālō

Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old French palat, from Latin palātum.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈpalat/, /ˈpalət/

Noun

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palate

  1. The palate; the top of the mouth (including the uvula).
  2. One's sense of taste (the palate was believed to be the source of this).

Descendants

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  • English: palate

References

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Romanian

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Noun

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palate n pl

  1. plural of palat
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