Mastication

n.

1.

The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food. Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. - Arbuthnot.

Noun

1.

mastication - biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow Synonyms: chewing, manduction, chew

change of state, chew, chewing, chomping, eating, feeding, gumming, jaw, manducate, manduction, masticate, mumbling, rumination