Lewis & Short

gustus, ūs, m. [kindred with Sanscr. ǵush, to be fond of; Gr. γεύω, γεύομαι, γεῦσις, taste], a tasting of food, a partaking slightly or eating a little of any thing (mostly post-Aug.; not in Cic.; cf.: gustatus, sapor).

  1. I. Lit.
      1. 1. In gen.: minister inferre epulas et explorare gustu solitus, Tac. A. 12, 66: explorare aliquid gustu, Col. 1, 8, 18; 2, 2, 20; cf. Plin. 31, 10, 46, § 114: gustu libata potio, Tac. A. 13, 16: cum ille ad primum gustum concidisset, Suet. Ner. 33: sine crebro salis gustu, Plin. 31, 6, 32, § 61.
      2. 2. In partic.
        1. a. A light dish at the beginning of a Roman meal, an antepast, whet, relish, = gustatio, Mart. 11, 31, 4; 11, 52, 12: gustus elementa per omnia quaerunt, Juv. 11, 14.
          Also in a neutr. form: gustum versatile sic facies, Apic. 4, 5, § 181 sqq.
        2. b. A draught of water: profer ex illa amphora gustum, Petr. 77 fin.
    1. B. Transf., taste, flavor, = sapor (post-Aug.): attrahatur spiritu is sucus, donec in ore gustus ejus sentiatur, Cels. 6, 8, 6; Col. 3, 2, 24; Plin. 14, 1, 3, § 12; 26, 8, 50, § 82; 27, 12, 96, § 121 sq.
  2. II. Trop. (post-Aug.).
    1. A. (Acc. to I. 2. a.) A foretaste, specimen: ad hunc gustum totum librum repromitto, Plin. Ep. 4, 27, 5: expetens versificationis nostrae gustum, Col. 11, 1, 2: gustum tibi dare volui, Sen. Ep. 114, 18.
    2. B. (Acc. to I. B.) Taste: urbanitas significat sermonem praeferentem in verbis et sono et usu proprium quendam gustum urbis, Quint. 6, 3, 17.