Home
/ Dictionary
/ Chewing cud

Chewing cud: meaning, definitions and examples

🐄

Add to dictionary

chewing cud

[ ˈtʃuːɪŋ kʌd ]

Verb

^{Context #1 | Verb}

animal behavior

Chewing cud refers to the process in which certain animals, such as cows, deer, and sheep, regurgitate food from their stomachs to chew it again. This process helps them to break down the tough plant material more efficiently and extract more nutrients from it. It is a crucial part of their digestive system.

Synonyms

masticating, ruminating.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
chewing cud	As per above, this phrase is used to describe the same activity and therefore the same context applies. However, note that you may have repeated the phrase by mistake. The cow was chewing cud in the field. Farmers often see their cattle chewing cud as a sign of good digestion.
ruminating	This word has a broader use. In animals, it refers to the process of chewing cud, similar to the phrases mentioned earlier. However, in human context, it often means to think deeply or ponder over something repeatedly. The scientist was ruminating over the problem for days. She spent hours ruminating on her past mistakes, unable to move forward.
masticating	This is a more technical or scientific term for the act of chewing food. It can be used both in human and animal contexts, often in formal or medical conversations. Effective masticating is important for proper digestion. Certain fruits are easier to masticate for the elderly.

Word

Description / Examples

chewing cud

As per above, this phrase is used to describe the same activity and therefore the same context applies. However, note that you may have repeated the phrase by mistake.

The cow was chewing cud in the field.
Farmers often see their cattle chewing cud as a sign of good digestion.

ruminating

This word has a broader use. In animals, it refers to the process of chewing cud, similar to the phrases mentioned earlier. However, in human context, it often means to think deeply or ponder over something repeatedly.

The scientist was ruminating over the problem for days.
She spent hours ruminating on her past mistakes, unable to move forward.

masticating

This is a more technical or scientific term for the act of chewing food. It can be used both in human and animal contexts, often in formal or medical conversations.

Effective masticating is important for proper digestion.
Certain fruits are easier to masticate for the elderly.

Examples of usage

The cow was peacefully chewing cud in the field.
Sheep spend a significant amount of time chewing cud each day.

Translations

Translations of the word "chewing cud" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ruminando

🇮🇳 जुगाली

🇩🇪 wiederkäuen

🇮🇩 mengunyah kembali

🇺🇦 жування жуйки

🇵🇱 przeżuwanie

🇯🇵 反芻 (はんすう)

🇫🇷 rumination

🇪🇸 rumiar

🇹🇷 geviş getirme

🇰🇷 되새김질

🇸🇦 اجترار

🇨🇿 přežvykování

🇸🇰 prežúvanie

🇨🇳 反刍 (fǎnchú)

🇸🇮 prežvekovanje

🇮🇸 jarm

🇰🇿 қайтадан шайнау

🇬🇪 მაღლებული

🇦🇿 gəvəzəlik

🇲🇽 rumiar

Etymology

The term 'chewing cud' has its origins in the Old English word 'cuðu', which means 'food'. The behavior of chewing cud has been observed in various ruminant animals for centuries, with references to it found in ancient texts and agricultural practices. It is a natural and essential process for these animals to extract maximum nutrition from their food sources.