What does masticate mean?
To masticate is to chew, or break down food or another solid material with the teeth. The verb is especially associated with careful, deliberate chewing, as in a discussion of digestion or dental care, although it can also describe the physical process of grinding a substance into smaller pieces. In figurative use, “masticate” can mean to examine or process information thoroughly, but this usage is less common and may sound technical or metaphorical. The word appears in formal and professional contexts more often than in casual conversation, where “chew” is usually the natural choice. Masticate is useful when precision is wanted: it identifies not merely eating, but the mechanical act of chewing and reducing food to a manageable form. Its unusual sound also makes it memorable, while its history connects it with the practice of chewing aromatic mastic resin.
To chew food or another solid substance with the teeth, especially as part of eating or breaking it down.
"The child masticated each bite thoroughly before swallowing."
More formal than “chew”; common in medical, dental, biological, and technical writing.
To process or examine information or ideas thoroughly, by analogy with chewing and breaking down food.
"The report gives readers time to masticate the evidence and consider its implications."
Figurative and relatively specialized; it is often used in educational or analytical contexts.
Masticate is the precise word for the work your teeth do before a bite becomes a swallow—and its roots point to aromatic tree resin once chewed for its fragrance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does masticate come from?
English “masticate” comes from Latin masticāre, meaning “to chew.” The Latin word is associated with Greek mastichē, the mastic tree or mastic resin, an aromatic substance traditionally chewed for its fragrance. The English verb appeared in the early modern period, when Latin scientific and medical vocabulary was being adopted into English. The related words “mastic,” “mastich,” and “mastication” reflect the same Latin and Greek roots.
Related word forms
How masticate is actually used
The word is more formal and technical than the everyday verb “chew.” It is especially common in medical, dental, biological, and educational contexts, where it can sound precise or deliberately elevated.