gustare

Gustare is a verb in Latin and in Italian. In Classical Latin, gustare means to taste, to sample, or to enjoy something by tasting. It appears in texts describing meals, flavors, or the act of savoring food and drinks. The noun forms related to taste include gustus (taste, flavor) and gustatio (the tasting or appetizer course of a Roman cena). In Italian, gustare retains these senses and is used widely to mean to taste, to savor, or to enjoy something, whether food, experience, or metaphorical pleasures.

Etymology and cognates: gustare derives from Latin gustus and the verb stem gust-. It is part of a family of words linked to the sense of taste. The root also yields English gustatory and gustation, terms used in anatomy and psychology to describe the sense of taste. In Romance languages, Italian gustare shares a direct lineage with Latin gustāre, and other descendants such as Spanish degustar reflect parallel development of "taste" across languages.

Usage in modern English: Outside linguistic or historical contexts, gustare is rare in English; when it does appear it is usually in quotes or as a technical term in linguistics or classical studies. In Italian-language contexts, gustare is common in recipes, menus, and everyday conversation.

See also: gustation, gustatory system, gustus.