rumen

noun

ru·​men ˈrü-mən How to pronounce rumen (audio)
plural rumina ˈrü-mə-nə How to pronounce rumen (audio) or rumens
: the large first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant in which cellulose is broken down by the action of symbiotic microorganisms compare abomasum, omasum, reticulum
ruminal adjective

Examples of rumen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Newcastle researchers put cloves, cinnamon and cumin, in addition to the turmeric and coriander, into a solution that includes cow rumen, the bacteria that lives in the cow's digestive tract. Eric Wolff, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2010 There the cows grazed, chewed cud, and literally ruminated, passing rough forage through a digestive organ, the rumen, that humans lack. Longreads, 2 Nov. 2022 When food enters the rumen (essentially a large fermentation vat intended to break down the animal’s fibrous meals), gut microbes catalyze a range of chemical transformations. Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 16 Dec. 2014 The smaXtec sensor also measures the movement inside of the rumen. Steven Savage, Forbes, 9 June 2022 The study, published in the scientific journal Frontiers on Friday, looked at samples of rumen from Alpine cows in an abattoir in Austria. Sara Spary, CNN, 2 July 2021 Anuli had been undergoing treatment since October for episodes of abdominal distension in her rumen, the first compartment in her stomach, according to the zoo. Gabrielle Chung, PEOPLE.com, 5 Mar. 2021 Anuli had been under treatment since October for episodes of abdominal distension, specifically of her rumen, the first stomach of a ruminant which is where microbial fermentation takes place. Mckenna Oxenden, baltimoresun.com, 5 Mar. 2021 In particular, the team looked for molecules specific to animals with a rumen, or first stomach, that breaks down dense vegetation into cud. Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin rumin-, rumen, from Latin

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rumen was in 1707

Dictionary Entries Near rumen

Cite this Entry

“Rumen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumen. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

rumen

noun
ru·​men ˈrü-mən How to pronounce rumen (audio)
plural rumina -mə-nə How to pronounce rumen (audio) or rumens
: the large first compartment of the stomach of a cud-chewing mammal (as a cow) in which cellulose is broken down by the action of microorganisms and in which food is stored prior to chewing

Medical Definition

rumen

noun
ru·​men ˈrü-mən How to pronounce rumen (audio)
plural rumina -mə-nə How to pronounce rumen (audio) or rumens
: the large first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant from which food is regurgitated for rumination and in which cellulose is broken down by the action of symbiotic microorganisms

called also paunch

compare abomasum, omasum, reticulum

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