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ruminant - 9 dictionary results

ru⋅mi⋅nant

[roo-muh-nuhnt]
–noun
1. any even-toed, hoofed mammal of the suborder Ruminantia, being comprised of cloven-hoofed, cud-chewing quadrupeds, and including, besides domestic cattle, bison, buffalo, deer, antelopes, giraffes, camels, and chevrotains.
–adjective
2. ruminating; chewing the cud.
3. contemplative; meditative: a ruminant scholar.

Origin:
1655–65; < L rūminant- (s. of rūmināns, prp. of rūminārī, rūmināre to chew cud, meditate), equiv. to rūmin- (s. of rūmen) rumen + -ant- -ant


ru⋅mi⋅nant⋅ly, adverb
ru·mi·nant   (rōō'mə-nənt)   
n.  Any of various hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammals of the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes, characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.
adj.  
  1. Characterized by the chewing of cud.
  2. Of or belonging to the Ruminantia.
  3. Meditative; contemplative.

[From Latin rūmināns, rūminant-, present participle of rūmināre, to ruminate; see ruminate.]

Ruminant

Ru"mi*nant\, a. [L. ruminans, -antis, p. pr.: cf. F. ruminant. See Ruminate.] (Zo["o]l.) Chewing the cud; characterized by chewing again what has been swallowed; of or pertaining to the Ruminantia.

Ruminant

Ru"mi*nant\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A ruminant animal; one of the Ruminantia.

ruminant  (n.)
1661, from L. ruminantem (nom. ruminans), prp. of ruminare "to chew the cud" (see ruminate).

Main Entry: 1ru·mi·nant
Pronunciation: 'rü-m&-n&nt
Function: noun
: a ruminant mammal

Main Entry: 2ruminant
Function: adjective
: of or relating to two suborders (Ruminantia and Tylopoda) of even-toed hoofed mammals (as sheep, oxen, deer, andcamels) that chew the cud and have a complex 3- or 4-chambered stomach

ruminant ru·mi·nant (r&oomacr;'mə-nənt)
n.
Any of various hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammals of the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes, characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.

ruminant   (r'mə-nənt)  Pronunciation Key 
Any of various even-toed hoofed mammals of the suborder Ruminantia. Ruminants usually have a stomach divided into four compartments (called the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum), and chew a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food. Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, giraffes, antelopes, and camels.
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