v.
Pronunciation: ' mas-t ə - ˌ k ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -cat · ed ; -cat · ing
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 with the teeth : CHEW
2 : to soften or reduce to pulp by crushing or kneading
intransitive verb : CHEW
– mas · ti · ca · tion \ ˌ mas-t ə - ' k ā -sh ə n \ noun
– mas · ti · ca · tor \ ' mas-t ə - ˌ k ā -t ə r \ noun