Ruminate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈrumÉ™neɪt/

Origin

1533, "to turn over in the mind," also "to chew cud" (1547), from Latin rūminātus, past participle of rūmināre ("to chew the cud, turn over in the mind"), from rūmen ("the throat, gullet") (generally ruminis), of uncertain origin.

Full definition of ruminate

Verb

1. (intransitive) To chew cud. (Said of ruminants.) Involves regurgitating partially digested food from the rumen.A camel will ruminate just as a cow will.
2. (intransitive) To meditate or reflect.I didn't answer right away because I needed to ruminate first.
3. (transitive) To meditate or ponder over; to muse on.
• ShakespeareWhat I know
  Is ruminated, plotted, and set down.
• DrydenMad with desire, she ruminates her sin.

Synonyms

• Or

Related terms

• rumen
• ruminant
• rumination

Derived terms

• ruminator

Adjective

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