Masticate

v. chew; grind to a pulp with one's teeth

Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is mashed and crushed by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by the cheek and tongue. As chewing continues, the food is made softer and warmer, and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food. After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.
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Verb
1. grind and knead; "masticate rubber"
(hypernym) knead, work
2. chew (food); "He jawed his bubble gum"; "Chew your food and don't swallow it!"; "The cows were masticating the grass"
(synonym) chew, manducate, jaw
(hypernym) grate, grind
(hyponym) chomp, champ
(derivation) chew, chewing, mastication, manduction

v. chew, masticate, munch, mumble

adj. scrunched, crumpled, crushed, crunched

v. masticate, chew; scrunch