Aftertastes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A lingering flavor or sensation that remains in the mouth after consuming food or drink
2. the subtle residual essence that can evoke certain memories associated with consumption
3. an often unexpected flavor sensation that develops following the initial taste experience

Etymology: "Aftertastes" is simply the plural of "aftertaste," and the word it forms is a plain compound: "after" joined to "taste." The first half comes from Old English "æfter," which descends from the same ancient root that gave us words meaning "behind" or "later" across the Germanic languages. The second half, "taste," is the older and more familiar partner, so the whole word reads almost literally as the taste that comes after the taste. The compound follows a pattern English uses freely, attaching "after-" to a noun to name something that follows or results from it, as in "afterthought" or "aftereffect." Because "aftertaste" names a count of separate sensations, the plural "aftertastes" is the form used when describing several lingering flavours or impressions, one after another.

Synonyms: lingering flavors, residual tastes