regurgitate

Regurgitate refers to the act of bringing swallowed material from the stomach back up into the esophagus or mouth, sometimes all the way to the exterior. In medical and everyday language, regurgitation describes a backward flow of undigested or partly digested food without the forceful retching that characterizes vomiting. It can occur spontaneously or as a symptom of underlying conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernia, or esophageal motility disorders. In healthy infants, regurgitation is often called spitting up and usually resolves with growth.

In animals, regurgitation serves different purposes. Ruminant mammals such as cows and sheep regurgitate recently chewed cud to re-chew and aid digestion. Many birds regurgitate food to feed their young. Owls and other species regurgitate indigestible parts as pellets to expel them, a behavior that can also be observed in other predators.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin regurgitare, meaning to push back. In figurative language, regurgitate can describe the act of parroting information from memory without understanding, a critique often aimed at rote learning or superficial comprehension.

See also: emesis, reflux, rumination, cud-chewing, spitting up.