masticatory

American  

[mas-ti-kuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˈmæs tɪ kəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or used in or for mastication.

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noun

plural

masticatories

1. Pharmacology. a medicinal substance to be chewed, as to promote the secretion of saliva.

masticatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˈmæstɪkətərɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or adapted to chewing

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noun

1. obsolete a medicinal substance chewed to increase the secretion of saliva

Other Word Forms

• unmasticatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of masticatory

From the New Latin word masticātōrius, dating back to 1605–15. See masticate, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

And rotifers also have a specialized masticatory apparatus -- "teeth" -- that the team hypothesized could grind microplastics into smaller particles.

From Science Daily • Nov. 9, 2023

The cathode was positioned at the hiatus infraorbitalis, and the anode was inserted into the masticatory muscles.

From Nature • Apr. 4, 2014

It is used as a masticatory in combination with the areca nut and betel leaf, and also for tanning purposes.

From Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture by Saunders, William

Underneath this slightly prominent and closed mouth, I found all the masticatory organs of a Cirripede, in an immature condition.

From A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia With Figures of all the Species. by Darwin, Charles

The organs of the mouth take collectively two typical forms, the masticatory and the suctorial, the former exemplified by the beetles, the latter by the butterflies, in which the mouth is purely for suction.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various