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RUMINATE

 - 4 dictionary results

ru⋅mi⋅nate

[roo-muh-neyt] verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.
–verb (used without object)
1. to chew the cud, as a ruminant.
2. to meditate or muse; ponder.
–verb (used with object)
3. to chew again or over and over.
4. to meditate on; ponder.

Origin:
1525–35; < L rūminātus (ptp. of rūminārī, rūmināre to ruminate), equiv. to rūmin- (s. of rūmen rumen ) + -ātus -ate 1


ru⋅mi⋅nat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
ru⋅mi⋅na⋅tion, noun
ru⋅mi⋅na⋅tive, adjective
ru⋅mi⋅na⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
ru⋅mi⋅na⋅tor, noun


2. think, reflect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ru·mi·nate   (rōō'mə-nāt')   
v.   ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing, ru·mi·nates

v.   intr.
  1. To turn a matter over and over in the mind.

  2. To chew cud.

v.   tr.
To reflect on over and over again.

[Latin rūmināre, rūmināt-, from rūmen, rūmin-, throat.]
ru'mi·na'tive adj., ru'mi·na'tive·ly adv., ru'mi·na'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ruminate 
1533, "to turn over in the mind," also "to chew cud" (1547), from L. ruminatus, pp. of ruminare "to chew the cud, turn over in the mind," from rumen (gen. ruminis) "gullet," of uncertain origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ru·mi·nate
Pronunciation: 'rü-m&-"nAt
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: -nat·ed;-nat·ing
1 : to chew again what has been chewed slightly and swallowed : chew the cud
2 : to engage in contemplation
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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