ruminant

[roo-muh-nuh nt] /ˈru mə nənt/
noun
1.
any even-toed, hoofed mammal of the suborder Ruminantia, being comprised of cloven-hoofed, cud-chewing quadrupeds, and including, besides domestic cattle, bison, buffalo, deer, antelopes, giraffes, camels, and chevrotains.
adjective
2.
ruminating; chewing the cud.
3.
contemplative; meditative:
a ruminant scholar.
Origin of ruminant
1655-65; < Latin rūminant- (stem of rūmināns, present participle of rūminārī, rūmināre to chew cud, meditate), equivalent to rūmin- (stem of rūmen) rumen + -ant- -ant
Related forms
ruminantly, adverb
nonruminant, noun, adjective
unruminant, adjective
Examples from the web for ruminant
  • Some farmers deliberately or accidentally give their cows ruminant feed.
  • Equipment used by rendering plants processes both ruminant and nonruminant feed, which can mix.
  • ruminant livestock such as cattle and sheep are the largest source of methane emissions resulting from human activity.
British Dictionary definitions for ruminant

ruminant

/ˈruːmɪnənt/
noun
1.
any artiodactyl mammal of the suborder Ruminantia, the members of which chew the cud and have a stomach of four compartments, one of which is the rumen. The group includes deer, antelopes, cattle, sheep, and goats
2.
any other animal that chews the cud, such as a camel
adjective
3.
of, relating to, or belonging to the suborder Ruminantia
4.
(of members of this suborder and related animals, such as camels) chewing the cud; ruminating
5.
meditating or contemplating in a slow quiet way
Word Origin and History for ruminant
n.

1660s, from Latin ruminantem (nominative ruminans), present participle of ruminare "to chew the cud" (see ruminate). As an adjective from 1670s.

ruminant in Medicine

ruminant ru·mi·nant (rōō'mə-nənt)
n.
Any of various hoofed, even-toed, usually horned mammals of the suborder Ruminantia, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and giraffes, characteristically having a stomach divided into four compartments and chewing a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food.

ruminant in Science
ruminant
  (r'mə-nənt)   
Any of various even-toed hoofed mammals of the suborder Ruminantia. Ruminants usually have a stomach divided into four compartments (called the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum), and chew a cud consisting of regurgitated, partially digested food. Ruminants include cattle, sheep, goats, deer, giraffes, antelopes, and camels.