masticate

[ mas-ti-keyt ]
See synonyms for: masticatemasticatedmasticatingmastication on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object),mas·ti·cat·ed, mas·ti·cat·ing.
  1. to chew.

  2. to reduce to a pulp by crushing or kneading, as rubber.

Origin of masticate

1
First recorded in 1640–50; from Late Latin masticātus, past participle of masticāre “to chew”; see mastic, -ate1

Other words from masticate

  • mas·ti·ca·ble [mas-ti-kuh-buhl], /ˈmæs tɪ kə bəl/, adjective
  • mas·ti·ca·tion [mas-ti-key-shuhn] /ˌmæs tɪˈkeɪ ʃən/ noun
  • mas·ti·ca·tor, noun
  • half-mas·ti·cat·ed, adjective
  • re·mas·ti·cate, verb, re·mas·ti·cat·ed, re·mas·ti·cat·ing.
  • un·mas·ti·cat·ed, adjective

Words Nearby masticate

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How to use masticate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for masticate

masticate

/ (ˈmæstɪˌkeɪt) /


verb
  1. to chew (food)

  2. to reduce (materials such as rubber) to a pulp by crushing, grinding, or kneading

Origin of masticate

1
C17: from Late Latin masticāre, from Greek mastikhan to grind the teeth

Derived forms of masticate

  • masticable, adjective
  • mastication, noun
  • masticator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012