/ ˈmæstɪkeɪt; NAmE / verb
[ v ] ( technical ) to chew food
► mas·ti·ca·tion / ˌmæstɪˈkeɪʃn; NAmE / noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (earlier (Middle English) as mastication ): from late Latin masticat- chewed, from the verb masticare , from Greek mastikhan gnash the teeth (related to masasthai to chew).