ruminate

Everyday

1. To think deeply about something for a long time. tree →
2. (negative) To keep going over the same worries again and again. tree →
3. (science) Of cows, sheep and goats: to bring food back up from the stomach and chew it again, called chewing the cud. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, animals that ruminate (ruminants) have a stomach with four parts and chew the cud. In stories and reflection lessons it describes a character deep in thought. In mental health it names worry that goes round in circles; talking to someone helps. Phrases: «ruminate on», «ruminate about».

Examples

• The cows lay in the field, ruminating. tree →
• He ruminated on the riddle all evening. tree →
• Try not to ruminate about one bad mark. tree →
• Sheep and goats ruminate their food. tree →
• She ruminated over whether to tell the truth. tree →
• The old wizard ruminated by the fire. tree →

Note

Formal for thinking. Regular verb: ruminated. Noun: «rumination»; animal noun: «ruminant». Used with «on», «about» or «over».

In Jewish tradition

Here it means to think over or dwell on a matter at length.

Interpretation. Commentators on Sefer Yetzirah linked the number 32 with the 32 times God is called Elohim in the Creation chapter.

Examples

• Although the number 32 is not ruminated upon any further after SY 1:1, subsequent commentaries have associated it with the 32 occurrences of the name אֱלֹהִים Elohim in [Genesis 1]. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

Formal for thinking. Regular verb: ruminated. Noun: «rumination»; animal noun: «ruminant». Used with «on», «about» or «over».