MASTICATE


Meaning of MASTICATE in English

/ 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).

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.