The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
masticate — (v.) 1640s, back formation from MASTICATION (Cf. mastication), or else from L.L. masticatus, pp. of masticare to chew. Related: Masticated; masticating … Etymology dictionary
masticate — ► VERB ▪ chew (food). DERIVATIVES mastication noun. ORIGIN Latin masticare, from Greek mastikhan grind the teeth … English terms dictionary
masticate — [mas′ti kāt΄] vt. masticated, masticating [< LL masticatus, pp. of masticare, to chew < Gr mastichan, to grind the teeth, gnash < mastax, a mouth, morsel < IE base * menth , to chew, mouth > MOUTH, L mandere, to chew] 1. to chew up … English World dictionary
masticate — UK [ˈmæstɪkeɪt] / US [ˈmæstɪˌkeɪt] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms masticate : present tense I/you/we/they masticate he/she/it masticates present participle masticating past tense masticated past participle masticated to chew (= crush… … English dictionary
masticate — [[t]mæ̱stɪkeɪt[/t]] masticates, masticating, masticated VERB When you masticate food, you chew it. [FORMAL] [V n] Her mouth was working, as if she was masticating some tasty titbit... Don t gulp everything down without masticating. Derived words … English dictionary
masticate — verb strong jaws enable them to masticate the bones of their prey Syn: chew, munch, champ, chomp, crunch, eat; formal manducate … Thesaurus of popular words
masticate — verb ( cated; cating) Etymology: Late Latin masticatus, past participle of masticare, from Greek mastichan to gnash the teeth; akin to Greek masasthai to chew more at mandible Date: 1562 transitive verb 1. to grind or crush (food) with or as if… … New Collegiate Dictionary
masticate — masticable /mas ti keuh beuhl/, adj. mastication, n. masticator, n. /mas ti kayt /, v.t., v.i., masticated, masticating. 1. to chew. 2. to reduce to a pulp by crushing or kneading, as rubber. [1640 50; < LL masticatus, ptp. of masticare to chew.… … Universalium
masticate — verb /ˈmæstɪkeɪt/ a) To chew (food). The cow stood, quietly masticating its cud. b) To grind or knead something into a pulp … Wiktionary
masticate — To chew; to perform mastication. * * * mas·ti·cate mas tə .kāt vb, cat·ed; cat·ing vt 1) to grind, crush, and chew (food) with or as if with the teeth in preparation for swallowing 2) to soften or reduce to pulp by crushing or kneading vi to make … Medical dictionary
