ruminate

views updated May 21 2018

ru·mi·nate / ˈroōməˌnāt/ • v. [intr.] 1. think deeply about something: we sat ruminating on the nature of existence.2. (of a ruminant) chew the cud.DERIVATIVES: ru·mi·na·tion / ˌroōməˈnāshən/ n.ru·mi·na·tive / -ˌnātiv/ adj.ru·mi·na·tive·ly / -ˌnātivlē/ adv.ru·mi·na·tor / -ˌnātər/ n.

ruminate

views updated May 29 2018

ruminate meditate (upon); chew the cud. XVI. f. pp. stem of L. rūminārī, -āre, f. rūmen, rūmin- throat, gullet, (in mod. scientific use) first stomach of a ruminant; see -ATE3.
So ruminant (animal) that chews the cud. XVII. rumination XVI.

ruminate

views updated May 23 2018

ruminate Of the endosperm, pale with an irregular pattern of dark lines, looking as though chewed.