mastication

Mastication is a technical word for the act of chewing.

Mastication is the noun form of the verb masticate, meaning to chew or, less commonly, to reduce to a pulp by crushing or kneading, as is done in the rubber-making process. Mastication is almost always used in a scientific or technical context. In the everyday context of eating, people usually just say chewing.

Example: Saliva is released from glands under the tongue to aid in the process of  mastication.

Masticate comes from the Late Latin masticāre, meaning “to chew,” from the Greek mastikhan, “to grind the teeth.” The English word mastic derives from the same Greek word and refers to a type of tree and the resin from it that’s used to make rubber and chewing gum. (The related Greek word mastíchē meant “chewing gum.”)

In the study of how humans and animals eat (at the least the ones with teeth), mastication refers to the process of breaking down pieces of food with the teeth in order to swallow them. We typically don’t think about it as we’re doing it, but certain teeth are used for certain foods and stages of the chewing process. And animals with different diets use different methods of mastication—carnivores (meat eaters) typically chew up and down, while herbivores (plant eaters) generally chew from side to side. In human mastication, the most important thing to remember is to do it with your mouth closed. And while we’re using technical words, remember that mastication is followed by deglutition—the process of swallowing.

What are some other forms related to mastication?

• masticate (verb)

What are some synonyms for mastication?

• chewing

What are some words that share a root or word element with mastication? 

• mastic

What are some words that often get used in discussing mastication?

• chew
• food
• bite
• teeth
• saliva

Mastication is most commonly used in a scientific or technical way, though people sometimes use it to be funny by choosing a technical word instead of just saying chewing.

Taste & smell sensitivity decrease w age,may lead 2 elderly eating more bland diet; mastication process less powerful in elderly #nutrition

— Dr. Jennifer Ashton (@DrJAshton) April 6, 2014

Winkler: mastication is very important in herbivores to break down foods to help with enzymatic digestion #2016svp

— Penny ⓐ Higgins (@paleololigo) October 26, 2016

Mate, please complete the mastication process before speaking. #DinnerDate

— Ria (@riariariaria82) April 1, 2016

Is mastication used properly in the following sentence?

The study of mastication often involves the anatomy of the mouth, including the teeth and jaw, as well as the tongue and salivary glands.