noun
palate
PAL-uht
noun
1
The roof of the mouth, separating the mouth from the nasal cavity.
"The dentist examined the roof of his palate."
2
A person's sense of taste, especially their ability to distinguish subtle flavours.
"Years of tasting wine had sharpened her palate."
3
A liking or taste for something, often figurative.
"The critic has little palate for slapstick comedy."
How to Use Palate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe roof of your mouth, or your ability to appreciate different flavours.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "palette" (an artist's board of colours) or "pallet" (a platform for stacking goods) — all three sound alike but mean completely different things.
Common pairings
a refined palate
cleft palate
please the palate
Word Forms
palated past tense, palates plural, palates singular
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The dentist examined the roof of his _____.
Etymology
From Latin palatum, "roof of the mouth," possibly of Etruscan origin, reaching English via Old French and Middle English.