RUMINATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rumination mean? 

• RUMINATION (noun)
  The noun RUMINATION has 3 senses:

1. a calm, lengthy, intent consideration

2. (of ruminants) chewing (the cud)

3. regurgitation of small amounts of food; seen in some infants after feeding

  Familiarity information: RUMINATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUMINATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A calm, lengthy, intent consideration

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

contemplation; musing; reflection; reflexion; rumination; thoughtfulness

Hypernyms ("rumination" is a kind of...):

consideration (the process of giving careful thought to something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "rumination"):

cogitation; study (attentive consideration and meditation)

meditation; speculation (continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature)

meditation ((religion) contemplation of spiritual matters (usually on religious or philosophical subjects))

introspection; self-contemplation; self-examination (the contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct)

retrospect (contemplation of things past)

Derivation:

ruminate (reflect deeply on a subject)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of ruminants) chewing (the cud)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

ruminants have remarkable powers of rumination

Hypernyms ("rumination" is a kind of...):

chew; chewing; manduction; mastication (biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow)

Derivation:

ruminate (chew the cuds)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Regurgitation of small amounts of food; seen in some infants after feeding

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("rumination" is a kind of...):

disgorgement; emesis; puking; regurgitation; vomit; vomiting (the reflex act of ejecting the contents of the stomach through the mouth)

 Context examples 

The dorsal attention and default systems, important for attention or focus and internal mental thoughts or rumination, respectively, also showed significant occurrences.

(Brain Activity Is Inherited, May Inform Treatment for ADHD, Autism, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

And for a little while she hoped he would not talk of it, and that a silent rumination might suffice to restore him to the relish of his own smooth gruel.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)