verb

bite and work (food) in the mouth with the teeth, especially to make it easier to swallow.

he was chewing a mouthful of toast

masticate,munch,champ,chomp,crunch,bite,nibble,gnaw,grind,eat,consume,devour,manducate,triturate,chumble

noun

a repeated biting or gnawing of something.

the dog was enjoying a quiet chew of his bone