Mās'ti-cā'tion, n.

n. [Lat. masticatio, Fr. mastication, Pr. masticacio, mastigacio, Sp. masticacion, It. masticazione.] The act or operation of masticating, or of chewing solid food.

Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. Arbuthnot.