| verb | chew the cuds “cows ruminate” |
| verb | reflect deeply on a subject “I mulled over the events of the afternoon” |
| ruminant | adjective | related to or characteristic of animals of the suborder Ruminantia or any other animal that chews a cud |
| rumination | noun | (of ruminants) chewing (the cud) |
| rumen | noun | the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant; here food is collected and returned to the mouth as cud for chewing |
| ruminant | noun | any of various cud-chewing hoofed mammals having a stomach divided into four (occasionally three) compartments |
| meditative | adjective | deeply or seriously thoughtful |
| meditation | noun | continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature |
| ponderer | noun | a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation |
| excogitative | adjective | concerned with excogitating or having the power of excogitation |
| contemplative | adjective | deeply or seriously thoughtful |
| contemplation | noun | a calm, lengthy, intent consideration |
| muse | noun | the source of an artist's inspiration |
| muser | noun | a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation |
| musing | noun | a calm, lengthy, intent consideration |
| reflective | adjective | deeply or seriously thoughtful |
| muller | noun | a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation |
| ruminative | adjective | deeply or seriously thoughtful |
| ruminator | noun | a reflective thinker characterized by quiet contemplation |
| speculative | adjective | showing curiosity |
| speculation | noun | continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature |