Dictionary-Definition.com :: Ruminate definition

Definition of 'ruminate'

verb

Chew the cuds; "cows ruminate"

verb

Reflect deeply on a subject; "I mulled over the events of the afternoon"; "philosophers have speculated on the question of God for thousands of years"; "The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate" [syn: chew over, think over, meditate, ponder, excogitate, contemplate, muse, reflect, mull, mull over, ruminate, speculate]

From: GCIDE

Ruminate \Ru"mi*nate\, v. t.
1. To chew over again. [1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: To meditate or ponder over; to muse on. [1913 Webster]
Mad with desire, she ruminates her sin. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
What I know Is ruminated, plotted, and set down. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Ruminate

From: GCIDE

Ruminate \Ru"mi*nate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ruminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruminating.] [L. ruminatus, p. p. of ruminari, ruminare, fr. rumen, -inis, throat, akin to ructare to belch, erugere to belch out, Gr. ?, AS. roccettan.]
1. To chew the cud; to chew again what has been slightly chewed and swallowed. "Cattle free to ruminate." --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
2. Fig.: To think again and again; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to reflect. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
Apart from the hope of the gospel, who is there that ruminates on the felicity of heaven? --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Ruminate \Ru"mi*nate\, Ruminated \Ru"mi*na`ted\, a. (Bot.) Having a hard albumen penetrated by irregular channels filled with softer matter, as the nutmeg and the seeds of the North American papaw. [1913 Webster]