chewing

(noun) biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow. Synonyms: chew, mastication, manduction.

(verb) chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth. Synonyms: chew, masticate, manducate, jaw. Examples: "He jawed his bubble gum." "Chew your food and don't swallow it!." "The cows were masticating the grass."