(("Mastication" means; to chew and/or grind and knead.)) Yes, but seeing as the how the question asked what mastiFIcation means and not in fact mastication, I will answer this correctly. Mastification is the mechanical breakdown of food, then mixing the food with saliva. Thoroughly uncommon term.
For anything the digestive process starts when you begin mastification, or chewing. then you swallow it.
the salivary amylase secreted by the salivary glands break complex food particles into maltose which is sugar
the food we eat soften because of the saliva