Masticator: meaning, definitions and examples

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masticator

 

[ ˈmæstɪˌkeɪtər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

oral activity

A masticator is a person who chews or grinds food with their teeth. They are responsible for the initial breakdown of food in the mouth before swallowing.

Synonyms

chewer, chomper, gummer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
masticator

Masticator is a formal and technical term often used in medical or scientific discussions about the process of chewing.

  • The masticator muscles are responsible for breaking down food into smaller particles
  • Dentists might study the function of the masticator system in detail
chewer

Chewer is a general and informal term suitable for everyday conversation to describe someone or something that chews.

  • He's a slow chewer, which means he takes longer to finish his meals
  • Gum chewers should be mindful of where they dispose of their gum
gummer

Gummer typically describes someone, often an elderly person, who chews without teeth. It can have a slightly negative or diminishing connotation.

  • Grandpa is now a gummer, but he still enjoys his meals with soft foods
  • The baby is just a little gummer before their teeth come in
chomper

Chomper is an informal and somewhat playful term that can be used to describe someone who chews with enthusiasm or vigor. It can have a slightly humorous or exaggerated connotation.

  • Look at that chomper go through those nachos! The dog is a real chomper when it comes to his favorite treats

Examples of usage

  • The masticator carefully chewed each bite of food before swallowing.
  • She is a slow masticator, taking her time to thoroughly chew her food.
  • The dentist recommended using a different masticator to improve digestion.
Context #2 | Noun

machine

In industrial settings, a masticator refers to a machine used for grinding or shredding materials such as wood or vegetation.

Synonyms

grinder, mulcher, shredder.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
masticator

Used in medical or biological contexts to describe something or someone that chews food. It can also refer to specific equipment in food processing.

  • The masticator muscle plays a key role in how animals chew their food.
  • This masticator machine helps in breaking down large chunks of meat.
grinder

Commonly used to describe a device that crushes or grinds substances into smaller pieces. It can apply to both food (like coffee beans) and industrial materials.

  • She used a coffee grinder to prepare fresh coffee beans for brewing.
  • The worker used a grinder to smooth out the metal surface.
shredder

Often used to describe equipment that tears materials into small pieces. This can include paper, documents for security, or food items like cheese.

  • He fed the confidential documents into the shredder to ensure privacy.
  • They used a cheese shredder to garnish the pasta with finely shredded Parmesan.
mulcher

Used primarily in gardening and landscaping to describe equipment that breaks down plant materials into mulch, which is then used to improve soil quality.

  • The gardener used a mulcher to turn the autumn leaves into fine mulch.
  • They rented a mulcher to deal with the large pile of branches in their yard.

Examples of usage

  • The forestry company employed a powerful masticator to clear the land of trees.
  • The masticator efficiently turned tree branches into wood chips.
  • The operator controlled the masticator to mulch the garden waste.

Translations

Translations of the word "masticator" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mastigador

🇮🇳 चबाने वाला

🇩🇪 Kauer

🇮🇩 pengunyah

🇺🇦 жувальник

🇵🇱 przeżuwacz

🇯🇵 咀嚼者 (そしゃくしゃ)

🇫🇷 mâcheur

🇪🇸 masticador

🇹🇷 çiğneyici

🇰🇷 씹는 사람

🇸🇦 مضغ

🇨🇿 žvýkač

🇸🇰 žuvák

🇨🇳 咀嚼者

🇸🇮 žvečilec

🇮🇸 tyggjari

🇰🇿 шайнаушы

🇬🇪 ღეჭვის

🇦🇿 çeynəyici

🇲🇽 masticador

Etymology

The word 'masticator' originated from the Latin word 'masticare' which means 'to chew.' It first appeared in the English language in the mid-17th century. The term has been used to describe both human oral activity and mechanical grinding processes.

See also: masticating.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,145, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.