The process of chewing food in preparation for deglutition and digestion; the act of grinding or comminuting with the teeth. [L. mastico, pp. -atus, to chew]
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n.
the process of chewing food.
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mas·ti·ca·tion (mas″tĭ-kaґshən) [L. masticare to chew] chewing; the process of biting and grinding food in preparation for swallowing and digestion.Medical dictionary. 2011.