noun
- 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
- ruminating; chewing the cud.
- contemplative; meditative: a ruminant scholar.
noun
- 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
- any other animal that chews the cud, such as a camel
adjective
- of, relating to, or belonging to the suborder Ruminantia
- (of members of this suborder and related animals, such as camels) chewing the cud; ruminating
- meditating or contemplating in a slow quiet way
n.1660s, from Latin ruminantem (nominative ruminans), present participle of ruminare “to chew the cud” (see ruminate). As an adjective from 1670s. 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.
- 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.