masticate

verb mas·ti·cate \ ˈmas-tə-ˌkāt \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of masticate

masticated; masticating

transitive verb

1 : to grind or crush (food) with or as if with the teeth : chew

The cows were masticating their food.

2 : to soften or reduce to pulp by crushing or kneading

intransitive verb

: chew

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mastication

play \ˌmas-tə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

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masticator

play \ˈmas-tə-ˌkā-tər\ noun

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Examples of masticate in a Sentence

The cows were masticating their food.
mindlessly masticated peanuts while watching the baseball game on TV

Recent Examples of masticate from the Web

Shortly after this piece publishes, a host of my McWopKraut kin will be masticating dehydrated meals on Rainier’s mighty shoulders.

— marc peruzzi, Outside Online, "I Was the First! (And Probably the Only)," 24 Apr. 2018
A lyrist playing to a herd of cows masticating their own ignorance, Bella often thought.

— andy borowitz, The New Yorker, "A Small Flame," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'masticate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of masticate

Late Latin masticatus, past participle of masticare, from Greek mastichan to gnash the teeth; akin to Greek masasthai to chew — more at mandible

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1562

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year