Library / English Dictionary

RUMINATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reflect deeply on a subject

Example:

The scientist must stop to observe and start to excogitate

Synonyms:

chew over; contemplate; excogitate; meditate; mull; mull over; muse; ponder; reflect; ruminate; speculate; think over

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "ruminate" is one way to...):

cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ruminate"):

premeditate (think or reflect beforehand or in advance)

theologise; theologize (make theoretical speculations about theology or discuss theological subjects)

introspect (reflect on one's own thoughts and feelings)

bethink (consider or ponder something carefully)

cogitate (consider carefully and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind)

question; wonder (place in doubt or express doubtful speculation)

puzzle (be uncertain about; think about without fully understanding or being able to decide)

consider; study (give careful consideration to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

rumination (a calm, lengthy, intent consideration)

ruminative (deeply or seriously thoughtful)

ruminator (a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Chew the cuds

Example:

cows ruminate

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "ruminate" is one way to...):

eat (take in solid food)

Domain category:

ruminant (any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

The animals ruminate

Derivation:

rumen (the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; here food is collected and returned to the mouth as cud for chewing)

ruminant (any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments)

ruminant (related to or characteristic of animals of the suborder Ruminantia or any other animal that chews a cud)

rumination ((of ruminants) chewing (the cud))

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