rumination

1. The act of pondering; meditation.
2. The act or process of chewing cud.

noun

The act or process of thinking: brainwork, cerebration, cogitation, contemplation, deliberation, excogitation, meditation, reflection, speculation, thought. See thoughts.

Includes regurgitation, remastication, ensalivation and reswallowing. The regurgitation of fluid reticular contents occurs as a result of a positive lowering of intrathoracic pressure, the arrival of a ruminal contraction at the cardial sphincter at the appropriate time, relaxation of the cardia and reverse peristalsis in the lower esophagus. The regurgitus is compressed at the back of the tongue and the fluid immediately reswallowed. The solid material is chewed for about a minute and reswallowed. The cycle is then ready to recommence. Rumination requires a positive approach by the cow and it is easily dissuaded by fright or food. Called also chewing the cud, cudding.

The noun has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: a calm lengthy intent consideration
  Synonyms: contemplation, reflection, reflexion, musing, thoughtfulness

Meaning #2: (of ruminants) chewing (the cud)

Meaning #3: regurgitation of small amounts of food; seen in some infants after feeding

The term rumination, meaning "to chew the cud," is used in several contexts:

Digestive rumination

• In animals, rumination is a part of normal digestion, in which the animal (known as a ruminant) brings up swallowed food (usually grass or hay), remasticates it, and swallows it. This aids the animal by allowing it to eat quickly and chew later while it is resting.
• In humans, rumination syndrome is a generally involuntary eating disorder characterized by the regurgitation of recently ingested food without retching

Mental rumination

• Mental rumination - contemplation or reflection, which may become persistent and recurrent worrying or brooding

Other

• Ruminations – a popular email column and series of books written by comedian Aaron Karo

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