mastication

Found in thesaurus: change of state

Babylon EnglishDownload this dictionary
mastication
n. chewing, grinding with one's teeth

English Wikipedia - The Free EncyclopediaDownload this dictionary
Mastication
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion, and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned by the cheek and tongue between the teeth for grinding. The muscles of mastication move the jaws to bring the teeth into intermittent contact, repeatedly occluding and opening. As chewing continues, the food is made softer and warmer, and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and via peristalsis continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.

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WordNet 2.0Download this dictionary
mastication

Noun
1. biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow
(synonym) chew, chewing, manduction
(hypernym) change of state
(hyponym) chomping
(part-holonym) eating, feeding
(derivation) chew, masticate, manducate, jaw


Babylon French-EnglishDownload this dictionary
mastication
nf. chew, chewing, mastication

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)Download this dictionary
Mastication
(n.)
The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
  

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. About