rumination /ro̅o̅′minā″shən/ [L, ruminare, to chew again] , 1. habitual regurgitation of small amounts of undigested food with little force after every feeding, a condition commonly seen in infants. It may be a symptom of overfeeding, of eating too fast, or of swallowing air. It has little or no clinical significance. More copious and forceful regurgitation may indicate a more serious condition such as an allergic intestinal reaction, an infectious disease, an obstruction of the intestinal tract, or a metabolic disorder. Also called reflux. See also vomit. 2. (in psychology) preoccupation with a thought or idea to a degree that the thinking interferes with activities of daily living or functioning.
