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.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

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.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

ruminate

views updated May 23 2018

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

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

ruminate

All Sources -
Updated Aug 08 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic

You Might Also Like