— palateless , adj. — palatelike , adj.
/pal"it/ , n.
1. Anat. the roof of the mouth, consisting of an anterior bony portion (hard palate) and a posterior muscular portion (soft palate) that separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. See diag. under mouth .
2. the sense of taste: a dinner to delight the palate.
3. intellectual or aesthetic taste; mental appreciation.
[ 1350-1400; ME palat palatum roof of the mouth ]