RUMINATE

ruminate

(verb) chew the cuds; “cows ruminate”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

ruminate (third-person singular simple present ruminates, present participle ruminating, simple past and past participle ruminated)

(intransitive) To chew cud. (Said of ruminants.) Involves regurgitating partially digested food from the rumen.

(intransitive) To meditate or reflect.

(transitive) To meditate or ponder over; to muse on.

Synonyms

• See also ponder

• Or think

Adjective

ruminate (not comparable)

(botany) Having a hard albumen penetrated by irregular channels filled with softer matter, as the nutmeg and the seeds of the North American papaw.

Source: Wiktionary

Ru"mi*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ruminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Ruminating.] Etym: [L. ruminatus, p.p. of ruminari, ruminare, fr. rumen, -inis, throat, akin to ructare to belch, erugere to belch out, Gr. roccettan.]

1. To chew the cud; to chew again what has been slightly chewed and swallowed. "Cattle free to ruminate." Wordsworth.

2. Fig.: To think again and again; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to reflect. Cowper. Apart from the hope of the gospel, who is there that ruminates on the felicity of heaven I. Taylor.

Ru"mi*nate, v. t.

1. To chew over again.

2. Fig.: To meditate or ponder over; to muse on. Mad with desire, she ruminates her sin. Dryden. What I know Is ruminated, plotted, and set down. Shak.

Ru"mi*nate, Ru"mi*na`ted, a. (Bot.)

Definition: Having a hard albumen penetrated by irregular channels filled with softer matter, as the nutmeg and the seeds of the North American papaw.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition