masticatory

English

Etymology

From Latin mastico +‎ -atory, the former borrowed from Ancient Greek μαστιχάω (mastikháō, “I gnash the teeth”), from μάσταξ (mástax, “that with which one chews”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌmasˈtɪk.eɪ.tər.i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /mæˈstɪk.əˌtɔr.i/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Noun

masticatory (plural masticatories)

1. (chiefly medicine) Something chewed, originally as a medicine, now typically for pleasure or to increase the flow of saliva.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 5, member 1, subsection iv:

     Sneezing, masticatories, and nasals are generally received.

Adjective

masticatory (not comparable)

1. Of, or relating to mastication.
2. Used for chewing.

Derived terms

• extramasticatory
• masticatory force
• oculomasticatory
• paramasticatory

 

References

• “masticatory”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.