ruminant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A hoofed animal, such as a cow, sheep, or deer, that chews the cud and has a stomach with several compartments.

   Cows, goats, and deer are all ruminants that graze on grass.

2. 2
   adj

   Belonging to or typical of cud-chewing animals like cows and deer.

   Ruminant mammals digest tough plants in a multi-chambered stomach.

From Latin rūmināns, rūminantem, present participle of rūminārī (“to chew the cud, ruminate”), from rūmen (“throat, gullet, rumen (first stomach of a ruminant)”).

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