masticate
verb
mas·ti·cate ˈma-stə-ˌkāt 
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
mastication
ˌma-stə-ˈkā-shən
noun masticator
ˈma-stə-ˌkā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- bite (on)
- champ
- chaw
- chew
- chomp (on)
- crunch (on)
- gnaw (on)
- nibble
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The cows were masticating their food. mindlessly masticated peanuts while watching the baseball game on TV
Recent Examples on the Web The only way to consume the stuff was to shove the entire string in your mouth and masticate the waxy nylon into an unsatisfying granular mass. 
Star Tribune, 30 Apr. 2021 And dogs have been known to yap and masticate their displeasure. Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2020 There’s something utterly satisfying about masticating all that fiber manually. Jessica Jones, M.s., R.d.n., SELF, 15 Apr. 2020 This Omega machine is a cold press masticating juicer, which means the essential vitamins and enzymes are preserved in the process. Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2020 For archaeologists, the sticky stuff’s longevity can help piece together the lives of ancient peoples who masticated on the chewy tar. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, 17 Dec. 2019 The grass here looks good enough to eat—and indeed there are bushy, red Salers cattle masticating everywhere. Stephen Heyman, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2019 That’s a lot to chew on, and Rushdie masticates it with his usual maximalist exuberance. BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2019 Our teeth and gut weren't designed to masticate and digest real food, no sirree. Christine Lennon, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 June 2012 See More
Star Tribune, 30 Apr. 2021 And dogs have been known to yap and masticate their displeasure. Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2020 There’s something utterly satisfying about masticating all that fiber manually. Jessica Jones, M.s., R.d.n., SELF, 15 Apr. 2020 This Omega machine is a cold press masticating juicer, which means the essential vitamins and enzymes are preserved in the process. Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2020 For archaeologists, the sticky stuff’s longevity can help piece together the lives of ancient peoples who masticated on the chewy tar. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, 17 Dec. 2019 The grass here looks good enough to eat—and indeed there are bushy, red Salers cattle masticating everywhere. Stephen Heyman, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Nov. 2019 That’s a lot to chew on, and Rushdie masticates it with his usual maximalist exuberance. BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2019 Our teeth and gut weren't designed to masticate and digest real food, no sirree. Christine Lennon, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 June 2012 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin masticatus, past participle of masticare, from Greek mastichan to gnash the teeth; akin to Greek masasthai to chew — more at mandible
First Known Use
1562, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
masticate
verb
mas·ti·cate ˈma-stə-ˌkāt
masticated; masticating
: chew entry 1
Medical Definition
masticate
verb
mas·ti·cate ˈmas-tə-ˌkāt
masticated; masticating
transitive verb
1
: to grind, crush, and chew (food) with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing
2
: to soften or reduce to pulp by crushing or kneading
intransitive verb
: to make the motions involved in masticating food
masticates
verb
as in chews
to crush or grind with the teeth mindlessly masticated peanuts while watching the baseball game on TV Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chews
- chaws
- crunches (on)
- bites (on)
- chomps (on)
- gnaws (on)
- eats
- champs
- sinks one's teeth into
- nibbles
- consumes
- snacks
- snacks
- munches
- swallows
- ruminates
- gobbles (up or down)
- scarfs
- noshes
- devours
- scoffs
- wolfs
- picks (at)
- gulps
- pecks (at)
- mumbles
- gorges
- ingests
- bolts
- gums
- nips