mastication

Definitions of mastication
  1. noun
    biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow
    synonyms: chew, chewing, manduction
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    types:
    chomping
    the act of chewing noisily
    gumming, mumbling
    ineffectual chewing (as if without teeth)
    rumination
    (of ruminants) chewing (the cud)
    type of:
    change of state
    the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics