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Chewing - Definition and Overview |
| Related Words: Cannibalism, Consumption, Cropping, Deglutition, Devourment, Dieting, Drag, Dressing, Eating, Feeding, Gluttony, Grazing |
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Chewing is the process by which food is torn and/or crushed by teeth. It's the first step of digestion. Through chewing, the food is made softer and warmer and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food.
After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.
Chewing is not solely for feeding. For example, among humans, chewing gum or tobacco is common.
Some animals, called ruminants, chew food more than once. These animals, such as cows, chew their food more than once for the extra nutrients in it. This food is called "cud".
Chewing is sometimes called mastication.
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Example Usage of Chewing |
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Jason_Pollock: http://twitpic.com/qbddt - Rosa luvs her bone but she took a moment from Chewing it to say hello to the Twitterverse:) |
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TheBusBandit: MICHAEL JORDAN is here hiding in the corner! This INTERRACIAL REDNECK COUPLE is ticking me off with their Tobacco Chewing and Donk Slapping. |
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kalj: Tip: if u have a stuffy nose, f medicine! ALL u need is something mint! peppermint, candy cane, peppermint Chewing gum, etc! it works |
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