Masticate means to chew food or to break down a substance by crushing and grinding. The term originates from Greek and Latin roots related to chewing and biting.
Masticate means to chew, or to reduce something to pulp by crushing and grinding. The word comes from Greek and Latin roots associated with gnashing teeth and chewing.
| Back | masticate /MAS-ti-kayt/ |
|---|---|
| Front | verb tr., intr. 1. To chew. 2. To reduce to pulp by crushing and grinding. [From Latin masticare (to chew), from Greek mastikhan (to gnash the teeth). Earliest documented use: 1562. A synonym of this word is fletcherize.] “Don’t chew with mouth open: Thy beauty causeth every head to turn. Thy comeliness could launch a thousand ships. But suitors will be few till thou dost learn To masticate with firmly closed lips. (Nan Reiner, Alexandria)” - Pat Myers; Rhymes & Misdemeanors; The Washington Post; Jun 14, 2015. “Ansari helpfully masticates their findings down for a general audience.” - Helen Lewis; Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari review; The Guardian (London, UK); Jun 4, 2015. |
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