déguste

Déguste is a French verb form meaning to taste, sample, or savor. It is the third person singular present indicative of déguster (il/elle/on déguste) and also the informal second person singular imperative (Déguste !). The infinitive form is déguster, and related forms include déguste, dégustons, dégustez. The noun form dégustation refers to a tasting session, while a person who tastes professionally is a dégustateur or dégustatrice.

Etymology and linguistic notes: déguster comes from the Latin degustare, formed from de- plus gustare, with gustus meaning taste. The word is used across culinary and wine contexts to describe evaluating flavors, textures, and quality during a tasting.

Usage: In everyday French, déguster conveys the act of savoring and evaluating a food or beverage. It often implies a deliberate, careful tasting rather than a quick bite. In contrast, the verb goûter can be broader, including trying something for the first time without emphasis on evaluation. Dégustation is the formal or organized practice of tasting, such as wine tastings, chocolate tastings, or gourmet events.

See also: Dégustateur, dégustation, degustation in culinary and beverage contexts. The term appears in menus, cookbooks, wine documentation, and gastronomy writing to signal the tasting and evaluation of flavors.