Quranic root
مضغ
m · ḍ · gh
The root centers on chewing food.
From the act of chewing, the root extends to the morsel or piece of flesh being chewed, and to a fleshly lump resembling such a morsel. Related derivatives name what remains in the mouth after chewing, the cheeks used for chewing, and certain parts of a bow.
- Maqāyīs · row 4397
- Mufradāt · row 1372
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
مُضْغَة
muḍghah
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
An embryonic lump of flesh, the developmental stage reached after the ʿalaqah stage.
In the Qur'an, the noun denotes the embryonic state likened to a chewable morsel of flesh, including the descriptions of a formed and an unformed embryonic lump.
- Lane · entry 5749
- Mufradāt · row 1372
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:5word 21
“an embryonic lump”
Quran 23:14word 7
“(into) an embryonic lump”
Quran 23:14word 9
“the embryonic lump”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 22:5مُّضْغَةٍۢan embryonic lump
- 23:14مُضْغَةًۭ(into) an embryonic lump
- 23:14ٱلْمُضْغَةَthe embryonic lump
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 4 Classical meanings
مُضْغَة
A piece or morsel of flesh, as much as can be chewed at once; especially a piece of flesh that is not fully cooked.
The ordinary Classical Arabic sense of the noun; it can refer to a fleshly piece such as the heart or tongue, without being restricted to an embryo.
- Lane · entry 5749
- Maqāyīs · row 4397
- Mufradāt · row 1372
مُضَاغَة
What remains in the mouth from something being chewed.
A derived noun referring to the remnant of chewed food.
- Mufradāt · row 1372
مَاضِغَان
The two cheeks or sides of the mouth used in chewing food.
A dual anatomical term associated with the action of chewing.
- Mufradāt · row 1372
مَضَائِغ
The parts at the ends of the two limbs of a bow; singular مَضِيغَة.
A specialized Classical Arabic term for parts of a bow, distinct from the flesh and chewing senses.
- Maqāyīs · row 4397
- Mufradāt · row 1372
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Qur'anic occurrences use مُضْغَة for an embryonic developmental stage; the ordinary morsel-of-flesh sense is broader Classical Arabic usage.