rumination
/ˌɹuːmɪˈneɪʃən/ noun
Forms ruminations
- noun The act of ruminating; i.e. chewing cud.
- noun (figuratively) Deep thought or consideration.
- noun (psychology) Negative cyclic thinking; persistent and recurrent worrying or brooding.
- noun (pathology) An eating disorder characterized by repetitive regurgitation of small amounts of food from the stomach.
Synonyms
cogitation contemplation deliberation mulling musing pondering meditation reflection rethinking reconsideration thought reflexion thoughtfulness
Etymology
From Latin rūminātio (“chewing the cud”); see ruminate.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act or process of ruminating, or chewing the cud; the habit of chewing the cud. Rumination is given to animals to enable them at once to lay up a great store of food, and afterward to chew it. Arbuthnot.
- noun The state of being disposed to ruminate or ponder; deliberate meditation or reflection.
Etymology [L. ruminatio: cf. F. rumination.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “rumination”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details