mastication

2 definitions found

mastication - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Mastication \Mas`ti*ca"tion\, n. [L. masticatio: cf. F.
     mastication.]
     The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid
           aliment, without which there can be no good digestion.
                                                    --Arbuthnot.
     [1913 Webster]

mastication - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  mastication
      n 1: biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft
           enough to swallow [syn: chew, chewing, mastication,
           manduction]