mastication

transitive verb masticated -·cat′ed, masticating -·cat′·ing

1. to chew up (food, etc.)
2. to grind, cut, or knead (rubber, etc.) to a pulp

Etymology: < LL masticatus, pp. of masticare, to chew < Gr mastichan, to grind the teeth, gnash < mastax, a mouth, morsel < IE base *menth-, to chew, mouth > mouth, L mandere, to chew