masticate
/'mæstikeit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To chew food: To crush and grind food with the teeth in preparation for swallowing and digestion.
- To grind and knead a substance: To work a material, such as rubber, into a uniform mass by crushing or kneading.
Usage
- The primary use of "masticate" is to describe the physical act of chewing. It is a more formal or technical synonym for "chew."
- It can also be used in industrial or manufacturing contexts to describe the process of working materials like rubber or plastics.
Examples
- Verb (To chew):
- It is important to masticate your food thoroughly for good digestion.
- The cows were peacefully masticating their cud in the field.
- Verb (To grind/knead):
- The machine is designed to masticate raw rubber compounds before molding.
Advanced Usage
- "Masticate" vs. "Chew": While synonymous, "masticate" is often used in scientific, medical, or formal contexts (e.g., biology, dentistry, nutrition). "Chew" is the common, everyday word.
- The doctor advised the patient to masticate slowly to aid his digestive issues. (Formal/Medical context)
- Just chew your gum quietly, please. (Everyday context)
Variants and Related Words
- Mastication (n): The process or act of chewing.
- Proper mastication is the first step in digestion.
- Masticatory (adj): Relating to chewing.
- The masticatory muscles are very strong.
Synonyms
- Chew: To crush food with the teeth. (Most common synonym)
- Chomp: To chew or bite on something noisily or vigorously.
- Grind: To reduce to small particles by crushing.
Antonyms
- Swallow: To cause food to pass from the mouth to the stomach without chewing.
- Gulp: To swallow hastily, greedily, or in large amounts.
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Masticate thoroughly": A common piece of dietary advice emphasizing the importance of chewing food well.
- For better health, remember to masticate thoroughly.
Verb
- chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth
- He jawed his bubble gum
- Chew your food and don't swallow it!
- The cows were masticating the grass
- grind and knead
- masticate rubber