gustatory

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 12, 2025, is gustatory, an adjective that describes things related to or associated with eating or the sense of taste. The word can be used to describe a wide variety of culinary experiences. For example, a deli might be praised for its gustatory delights, such as cream puffs with freshly baked pastry shells and chilled vanilla pudding. Gustatory is part of a set of words that describe the senses, including visual, aural, olfactory, and tactile. The word has its roots in Latin, specifically the word gustare, meaning "to taste." Gustare is also the ancestor of other words like gustation, degustation, choose, and disgust. Gustation refers to the act or sensation of tasting, while degustation involves tasting in a series of small portions. Gustatory is a useful word for describing the experience of eating and the sense of taste. The word can be used in a variety of contexts, from food reviews to culinary descriptions. Overall, gustatory is a word that can add depth and nuance to descriptions of food and eating experiences.