swallowing

Moving food down

Swallowing is the act of passing something through the throat into the stomach.

Beyond the physical motion, swallowing extends to accepting or enduring something unpleasant: That's a hard story to swallow.

To swallow one's pride is to suppress it.

To swallow words is to speak indistinctly, or to retract them.

Swallowing up means engulfing completely: The corporation swallowed up its competitors.

physiology

esophagus

Food tube to stomach

peristalsisInvoluntary digestive muscle waves
bolusChewed food mass
pharynxMuscular throat cavity

throat · epiglottis · larynx · gullet · uvula · trachea · saliva · tongue · muscles · reflex

eating

gulp

Hasty, large swallow

chewGrind with teeth
bitePierce with teeth
mouthfulQuantity you can chew

masticate · devour · consume · swig · slurp · gobble · guzzle · choke down · wolf down · digest

emotional

pride

Satisfaction from one's achievements

fearEmotional response to threat
tearsViolent pulls apart
angerIntense hostile emotion

words · feelings · lump · sob · gulp · choke back · suppress · repress · hold back · bite back

acceptance

believe

Accept as true

acceptConsent to receive
buyObtain through payment
fall forBe deceived by

take in · deceive · gullible · credulous · naive · trusting · hook line and sinker · story · lie · excuse

Categories

eatingchewing, biting, nibbling, munching, chomping
eating and drinkingeat, drink, chew, bite, gulp
digestionstomach acid, digesting, chewing, digestion, digestive organs
body functionsbreathing, digestion, heartbeat, circulation, respiration
chewingmastication, chewing, gnawing, grinding, biting
consumptioneating, drinking, consuming, calorie intake, dietary intake

Opposites

ingestion direction

swallowingregurgitating

Ejecting stomach contents upward

vomiting · expelling · spitting out · throwing up · disgorging

acceptance/belief

swallowingdisbelieving

Refusing to accept something

doubting · rejecting · questioning · challenging · disputing

oral processing stage

swallowingchewing

Crushing food orally

masticating · gnawing · chomping · munching · grinding

Phrases

swallowing prideSuppressing ego to proceed
swallowing a bitter pillAccepting something unpleasant unwillingly
sword swallowingInserting blades into the esophagus
difficulty swallowingImpaired deglutition
swallowing reflexAutomatic throat muscle contraction

Family

swallow, ingest, gulping, swallowed, swallows, ingestion, ingested, ingests, ingesting

Familiarity: Top 20,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G