palate

Etymology

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

noun

1. (anatomy) The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the mouth and nose in vertebrates.
   1. (zoology) A part associated with the mouth of certain invertebrates, somewhat analagous to the palate of vertebrates.
   2. (entomology, rare) The hypopharynx of an insect.
   3. (botany) A projection in the throat of certain bilabiate flowers as the snapdragon.
   4. (cooking, historical) The palate of an animal, as an item of food.
      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. 1791, James Boswell, Life of Samuel Johnson, Oxford, page 332
2. (figurative) A person's ability to distinguish between and appreciate different flavors.
3. (figurative) Mental relish; a liking or affinity for something.
   entertain the palates of Nobles 1656, Thomas Baker, he Wicked Mans Plot Defeated
4. Taste or flavour, especially with reference to wine or other alcoholic drinks.

verb

1. (transitive, nonstandard) To relish; to find palatable.
   "If it’s way out there, it’s hard to palate," said Sreenivasan. 10 October 2013, Adam Mann, “Number Crunching Shows Old Movies Are More Creative Than New Ones”, in WIRED