1 : to grind or crush (food) with or as if with the teeth : chew The cows were masticating their food.

What does masticate mean in science?

Mastication is a technical word for the act of chewing. Mastication is the noun form of the verb masticate, meaning to chew or, less commonly, to reduce to a pulp by crushing or kneading, as is done in the rubber-making process. Mastication is almost always used in a scientific or technical context.

What is another word meaning masticating?

chew, chomp (on), crunch (on), gnaw (on), nibble.