咀嚼
Mastication \Mas`ti*ca"tion\, n. [L. masticatio: cf. F. mastication.] The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food. Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. --Arbuthnot.
mastication n : biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow [syn: {chew}, {chewing}, {manduction}]