masticate

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: mas=ti=cate

CIDE DICTIONARY

masticate, v. t. [L. masticatus, p. p. of masticare to chew, prob. fr. mastiche mastic. See Mastic.].

 To grind or crush with, or as with, the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

masticate, v.tr. grind or chew (food) with one's teeth.

Derivative

mastication n. masticator n. masticatory adj.

Etymology

LL masticare masticat- f. Gk mastikhao gnash the teeth

THESAURUS

masticate

bite, bruise, champ, chaw, chew, chew the cud, chew up, chomp, chump, crunch, crush, gnash, gnaw, grind, gum, macerate, mash, mouth, mumble, munch, nibble, pulp, pulpify, ruminate, scrunch, smash, squash

ROGET THESAURUS

masticate

Food

VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.