Mastication

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mastication \Mas`ti*ca"tion\, n. [L. masticatio: cf. F.
     mastication.]
     The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid


           aliment, without which there can be no good digestion.
                                                    --Arbuthnot.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mastication
       n : biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft
           enough to swallow [syn: {chew}, {chewing}, {manduction}]