Cool MateLick vs Sample vs Taste
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Lick
Top 2,000 (common)
Sample
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Taste
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Lick | Sample | Taste | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɪk//🇺🇸 //lɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɑːmpl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsæmpl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/teɪst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/teɪst/"]/ |
| Meaning | To touch or move something with your tongue. | A small part of something used to show what the whole is like. | The flavor you feel when you eat or drink something. |
| Example | The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. | He provided a sample of the product for us to test. | The taste of chocolate is my favorite flavor. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | lick the spoon, lick someone's face, lick clean, lick the envelope | large, small, total, draw, select, comprise something, consist of something, size, survey, group, sample from, sample of, blood, faecal/fecal, serum, collect, obtain, take, contain, show, sample of, free, book, sample of | delicious, fresh, nice, have, leave, affect, buds, brief, little, small, get, have, taste, taste of, a taste of things to come, brief, little, small, get, have, taste, taste of, a taste of things to come, excellent, exquisite, fine, reflect, show, exercise, in … taste, with taste, taste in, an arbiter of taste, in the best possible taste, in the worst possible taste, catholic, eclectic, varied, have, like, share, lie, run, change, for somebody’s taste, to taste, to your taste, a man/woman of … tastes, a matter of (personal) taste, a wide range/variety of tastes |
| Antonyms | leave, dry | whole, entirety | dislike, aversion, indifference |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'like' in pronunciation, Using 'lick' as a noun only, Incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'licked' instead of 'lick') | Confusing 'sample' with 'exemplar' - they have different meanings., Using 'sampled' incorrectly as a verb form in past tense., Mixing up 'sample' as a noun and a verb. | Confusing 'taste' as a noun and a verb; needs context., Using 'taste' without an object; e.g., 'I taste' rather than 'I taste the soup'., Saying 'taste good' instead of 'tastes good'. |
| Usage notes | Often used in both literal and figurative contexts. In informal settings, it might refer to doing something quickly. | Used in scientific, business, and educational contexts when referring to testing or showing examples. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing products or experiences. | Use 'taste' when talking about how food or drink feels to your mouth. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, like reviews and everyday conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Lick vs Sample vs Taste
What's the difference between Lick, Sample, and Taste?
Lick: To touch or move something with your tongue. Sample: A small part of something used to show what the whole is like. Taste: The flavor you feel when you eat or drink something.
Which is more advanced: Lick, Sample, and Taste?
Sample is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Lick: The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. Sample: He provided a sample of the product for us to test. Taste: The taste of chocolate is my favorite flavor.
Can I use Lick, Sample, and Taste interchangeably?
Not always. Lick, Sample, and Taste are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.