[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/mastication/)

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# mastication

noun (mastication — uncountable)

«mastication» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal, science) Chewing: crushing food with the teeth so it can be swallowed and digested. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#m1)
2. The process of chewing as the first stage of digestion. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in science lessons about digestion and teeth: digestion begins in the mouth with mastication and saliva. In everyday talk people simply say «chewing». Phrases: mastication of food, muscles of mastication.

### Examples

- Digestion starts with mastication in the mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x1)
- Mastication breaks food into small pieces. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x2)
- Molars are the teeth used most for mastication. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x3)
- Saliva mixes with the food during mastication. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x4)
- Cows spend hours on mastication of grass. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x5)
- Good mastication helps the stomach do its job. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x6)
- The jaw muscles control mastication. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable. Very formal/scientific; in speech say «chewing». Verb: masticate (formal for chew). Do not confuse with words that look a little similar but mean other things.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «mastication» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mastication/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«mastication» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mastication.html) on Mova free.