Crossword Genius

Taste cut meat maid oddly cut (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

umami

'taste' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cut meat maid oddly cut' is the wordplay.
'oddly cut' means one should take alternating letters (letters in odd-numbered positions removed).
'cut'+'meat'+'maid'='cutmeatmaid'
The alternating letters of 'cutmeatmaid' are 'UMAMI'.

(Other definitions for umami that I've seen before include "acquired taste perhaps" , "Savoury taste sensation produced by glutamates - I, a mum (anag)" , "Savoury flavour" , "Fifth flavour" , "meaty taste" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.