ruminate

[ roo-muh-neyt ]
/ ˈru məˌneɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ruminate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing.

to chew the cud, as a ruminant.
to meditate or muse; ponder.

verb (used with object), ru·mi·nat·ed, ru·mi·nat·ing.

to chew again or over and over.
to meditate on; ponder.

Origin of ruminate

1525–35; < Latin rūminātus (past participle of rūminārī, rūmināre to ruminate), equivalent to rūmin- (stem of rūmen rumen) + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM ruminate

Words nearby ruminate

rumelia, rumen, rumford, rumi, ruminant, ruminate, ruml, rummage, rummage out, rummage sale, rummer

Words related to ruminative

absorbed, analytical, attentive, brainy, calculating, cerebral, cogitative, contemplative, deep, deliberative, discerning, earnest, engrossed, farsighted, grave, intellectual, intent, keen, levelheaded, logical

Example sentences from the Web for ruminative

British Dictionary definitions for ruminative

ruminate
/ (ˈruːmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(of ruminants) to chew (the cud)
(when intr , often foll by upon, on, etc) to meditate or ponder (upon)

Derived forms of ruminate

rumination, noun ruminative, adjective ruminatively, adverb ruminator, noun

Word Origin for ruminate

C16: from Latin rūmināre to chew the cud, from rumen