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regurgitate

[ri-gur-ji-teyt]
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verb (used without object), re·gur·gi·tat·ed, re·gur·gi·tat·ing.
  1. to surge or rush back, as liquids, gases, undigested food, etc.
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verb (used with object), re·gur·gi·tat·ed, re·gur·gi·tat·ing.
  1. to cause to surge or rush back; vomit.
  2. to give back or repeat, especially something not fully understood or assimilated: to regurgitate the teacher's lectures on the exam.
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Origin of regurgitate

1645–55; < Medieval Latin regurgitātus (past participle of regurgitāre), equivalent to re- re- + gurgit-, stem of gurges whirlpool, flood, stream + -ātus -ate1
Related formsre·gur·gi·tant [ri-gur-ji-tuh nt] /rɪˈgɜr dʒɪ tənt/, nounun·re·gur·gi·tat·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for regurgitate

Historical Examples

  • I wished to regurgitate, to cast off this cold, frightening sensation.

    Cogito, Ergo Sum

    John Foster West

  • The lacrymal sack can regurgitate its contents into the eye.

    Zoonomia, Vol. I

    Erasmus Darwin

  • As they approached this capital, Renaldo's grief seemed to regurgitate with redoubled violence.

  • And that Emerson and Horace Greeley were alike in their capacity to absorb, digest and regurgitate, is everywhere acknowledged.

  • We swallow and regurgitate over and over again our dissatisfaction, and are aptly said to chew the cud of bitterness.

British Dictionary definitions for regurgitate

regurgitate

verb
  1. to vomit forth (partially digested food)
  2. (of some birds and certain other animals) to bring back to the mouth (undigested or partly digested food with which to feed the young)
  3. (intr) to be cast up or out, esp from the mouth
  4. (intr) med (of blood) to flow backwards, in a direction opposite to the normal one, esp through a defective heart valve
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Derived Formsregurgitant, noun, adjectiveregurgitation, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin regurgitāre, from re- + gurgitāre to flood, from Latin gurges gulf, whirlpool
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

Word Origin and History for regurgitate

v.

1640s (intransitive), 1753 (transitive), back formation from regurgitation, or else from Medieval Latin regurgitatus, past participle of regurgitare. Meaning "to vomit" first attested 1753. Related: Regurgitated; regurgitating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
regurgitate in Medicine

regurgitate

(rē-gûr′jĭ-tāt′)
v.
  1. To rush or surge back.
  2. To cause to pour back, especially to cast up partially digested food.
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Related formsre•gur′gi•tant (-tənt) adj.re•gur′gi•ta′tion n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.