(a) To exercise the sense of taste; perceive a flavor; also fig.; ppl. tastinge, pertaining to the sense of taste; (b) to perceive (a flavor), taste (sweetness, bitterness, etc.), perceive the flavor of (sth.); also fig.; also, with hou (that) clause: perceive by tasting (how sweet the Lord is, that the Lord is sweet);—used fig.; (c) to judge something by tasting it; test the quality or wholesomeness of (food, drink, etc.) by tasting, taste (wine, ale) in order to approve or disallow its consumption or sale; ~ of, take a taste of (medicine); ~ under toth, test (seeds) by biting; (d) ~ of (on), to partake of (food, drink, etc.), ingest (sth.); also fig.; also, drink from (a cask);—in fig. context; (e) to ingest (food, drink, etc.), eat or drink (sth.); also, partake lightly of (sth.); eat or drink a little of; also fig.;—also without obj. [quot. a1400, 2nd]; also, drink from (a cask);—in fig. context; (f) ppl. tasted, in phrases: swete (wel) tasted, fresh-tasting, pleasant-tasting; (g) in proverbs.

(a) To examine someone or something by touching, palpate; grope, feel; also, caress, fondle [last quot.]; surg. probe; (b) to touch (sb. or sth.), examine (sb. or sth.) by touching, palpate; also, feel (someone's pulse); probe (a wound).

(a) To experience something, perceive something, feel; also, with sexual connotation: have experience [1st quot.]; ~ of, have experience of (sth.); ppl. tastinge as adj.: who experiences, experiencing; (b) to experience (sb. or sth.), perceive, feel; also fig.; recognize (sb.) [quot. a1450(c1410)]; also, with sexual connotation: know (another mate) [last quot.]; with hou clause as obj.: perceive how (sth. is the case, etc.); ~ ded (deth), undergo death, die.

To put (sb. or sth.) to the test, try, test; tempt (sb.); sound the depth of (water) [last quot.]; also, with inf.: make an attempt (to do sth.); try (to do sth.).