taste bud

noun

: an end organ mediating the sensation of taste and lying chiefly in the epithelium of the tongue

Examples of taste bud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What is the McRib? Made from pork, water, salt, dextrose and – have your taste buds identified this ingredient? —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024

Our version includes a little bit of a soft drink like Dr. Pepper to really tickle those Texan taste buds. —Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2024

Bitters help by signaling to your taste buds to create saliva to begin the digestion process in the same way that bitter cocktails, or apéritifs like a Negroni can help to stimulate digestion when enjoyed before a meal. —Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 21 Nov. 2024

Whether or not black licorice becomes an American staple, people are clearly ready to test their taste buds. —Natalie Bennett, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

taste bud

noun

: any of the sense organs by means of which taste is recognized and which are usually on the surface of the tongue

Medical Definition

taste bud

noun

: an end organ that mediates the sensation of taste, lies chiefly in the epithelium of the tongue and especially in the walls of the circumvallate papillae, and consists of a conical or flask-shaped mass made up partly of supporting cells and partly of neuroepithelial sensory cells terminating peripherally in short hairlike processes which project into the pore in the overlying epithelium and by which communication with the mouth cavity is effected