- the act of pondering or musing on something: Understanding little of what was happening, I was semiconsciously storing away experiences, impressions, and ideas for later rumination.
- something written or spoken that expresses such pondering or musing: Her blog posts contain notes of spirituality, ruminations on the meaning of experience, and glimpses of her multifaceted life.
- excessive, repetitive thinking focused on the same, usually negative, idea or theme: characteristic of some obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders.
- the act or process of chewing the cud, as cows, deer, and some other animals do: Rumination helps cows efficiently turn grass, corn, and other feed into nutrient-dense milk.
