English Meaning & Definitions
An hoofed mammal that has a stomach with multiple chambers (typically four) and regurgitates food from the first stomach to chew it again as cud.
- “Cows, sheep, and deer are all common examples of ruminants.”
- “The specialized digestive system of a ruminant allows it to extract nutrients from tough plant material like grass.”
Relating to or belonging to the suborder of mammals that chew the cud; metaphorically, given to contemplation or meditation.
- “Ruminant animals spend a significant portion of their day grazing and chewing.”
- “He fell into a ruminant silence, staring out the window for over an hour.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “ruminant”.
Derived from the Latin verb 'ruminare', meaning 'to chew the cud' or 'to reflect upon', which comes from 'rumen', meaning 'gullet' or 'throat'. The metaphorical sense of 'meditating or pondering' developed in the 16th century from the animal's habit of regurgitating and re-chewing its food.
Think of a 'room in' which an animal sits quietly and chews its cud, or where a person goes to room around and deeply ponder thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions About “ruminant”
1. What is the meaning of “ruminant” in English?
In English, ruminant (noun) is defined as: “An hoofed mammal that has a stomach with multiple chambers (typically four) and regurgitates food from the first stomach to chew it again as cud.”.
2. How do you use “ruminant” in a sentence?
“Cows, sheep, and deer are all common examples of ruminants.”
3. What are English synonyms of “ruminant”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “ruminant”?
Derived from the Latin verb 'ruminare', meaning 'to chew the cud' or 'to reflect upon', which comes from 'rumen', meaning 'gullet' or 'throat'. The metaphorical sense of 'meditating or pondering' developed in the 16th century from the animal's habit of regurgitating and re-chewing its food.
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