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bite,champ,chomp,chumble,crunch,manducate,munch,triturate
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chew, swallow whole, gulp, ingest
gnaw,ruminate
masticate
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Dictionary definition of masticate
To chew or grind food with one's teeth in order to break it down into smaller pieces that can be easily swallowed and digested.
"Before swallowing, you should masticate your food thoroughly."
Detailed meaning of masticate
This process is an essential part of the digestive system and is necessary to extract nutrients from food. The act of mastication begins with the teeth biting into the food, and then the jaw muscles move in a rhythmic motion to grind the food into smaller pieces. This action also mixes the food with saliva, which contains enzymes that begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. Mastication is a voluntary process, and different types of food may require different amounts of chewing to properly prepare them for digestion.
Example sentences of masticate
1. Before you swallow, make sure to masticate your food thoroughly.
2. The dentist advised me to masticate on the left side of my mouth due to a sensitive tooth on the right.
3. You should masticate each bite at least 30 times to aid digestion.
4. My grandmother insisted I masticate slowly to fully appreciate the flavor.
5. He found it hard to masticate his steak, as it was quite tough.
6. If you don't masticate your food properly, you might choke.
History and etymology of masticate
The verb 'masticate' has its etymological origins in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'masticare,' which means 'to chew' or 'to grind with the teeth.' This Latin term is related to 'māstix,' which means 'a chewing gum' or 'a substance chewed.' In English, 'masticate' entered the language in the early 17th century, retaining its sense of chewing or grinding food with one's teeth in order to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces for swallowing and digestion. The etymology of 'masticate' reflects its historical connection to the essential process of mastication, which is a fundamental part of the digestive system, emphasizing the role of the teeth in preparing food for further processing in the body.
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Further usage examples of masticate
1. The nutritionist recommended that I masticate more to slow down my eating.
2. Some animals, like cows, masticate their food twice to get the maximum nutrients.
3. To masticate the gum well, he put extra effort into every chew.
4. She managed to masticate the stale bread despite its hardness.
5. Remember to masticate every morsel for better absorption of nutrients.
6. If you masticate this particular herb well, it will release beneficial enzymes.
7. It's vital to masticate before swallowing, especially with solid foods.
8. It was difficult for her to masticate the meal without her dentures.
9. The purpose of the front teeth is to masticate food into smaller pieces.
10. My younger brother learned to masticate when he was just a few months old.
11. The food was so delicious that I took my time to masticate and enjoy every bit.
12. The pain in his jaw made it difficult for him to masticate properly.
13. Make sure to masticate the apple thoroughly to avoid any potential choking hazard.
14. I noticed that I masticate much slower when I'm eating mindfully.
15. The dentist recommended that I masticate sugar-free gum to improve my dental health.
16. If you don't masticate your food properly, you may experience digestive problems.
17. The baby couldn't masticate solid food and had to be fed mashed vegetables.
18. To avoid choking, it's important to masticate small bites of food at a time.
19. Some animals, such as cows, have multiple stomachs to better masticate their food.
20. He found it difficult to masticate his food after getting his braces tightened.
21. The elderly woman's dentures made it hard for her to masticate certain foods.
22. It's important to teach children how to masticate their food to prevent choking.
23. He had to masticate the tough steak for a long time before it was soft enough to swallow.
24. If you don't masticate your food well, you may not absorb all of the nutrients from it.
