mastication

n. chewing, grinding 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.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Mastication /mas·ti·ca·tion/ chewing; the biting and grinding of food. mastication, n 1. the process of chewing food in preparation for swallowing [more]Mastication - Community and Resources

Noun
1. biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow
(synonym) chew, chewing, manduction
(hypernym) change of state
(hyponym) chomping
(part-holonym) eating, feeding
(derivation) chew, masticate, manducate, jaw

n. chew, chewing, mastication