I. ˈrüməˌnāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminare, ruminari to chew the cud, think over, ruminate from rumin-, rumen gullet; akin to Sanskrit romantha chewing the cud
transitive verb
1. : to muse upon : contemplate over and over : ponder over
ruminating the contents of that last batch of letters she had received — Aldous Huxley
ruminating a judgment in his solemn dull brain — Edmond Taylor
2. : to chew repeatedly for an extended period
looked over my head in a trance, occasionally ruminating her gum — Nathaniel Burt
intransitive verb
1. : to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew a cud
the cows … stood in the yards all day, ruminating and steaming — Adrian Bell
2. : to consider something for a period or at intervals : engage in contemplation : reflect
the old woman sat ruminating for a moment — Guy McCrone
it is fascinating to ruminate on what a really intelligent program might accomplish — Aaron Copland
Synonyms: see ponder
II. -_nə̇]t, -ˌnā], usu ]d.+V\ adjective
Etymology: Latin ruminatus, past participle of ruminare, ruminari to chew the cud
: mottled as if chewed — used of the endosperm of a seed (as of the nutmeg) in which the dark inner layer of the testa is infolded into the lighter endosperm