What is the term for a soft mass of chewed food?

The term for a soft mass of chewed food is "bolus." When you chew food, it is mixed with saliva, which helps to form a cohesive mass that can be easily swallowed. This process is essential for digestion, as the bolus moves through the esophagus into the stomach.

The other terms refer to different substances or concepts in digestion. Chyme, for example, is the semi-liquid mixture of partially digested food and digestive juices found in the stomach and small intestine after the bolus has been further processed. Morcel and substratum do not specifically relate to the process of digestion in the same way that bolus does. Thus, "bolus" is the most accurate term for the soft mass of chewed food ready to be swallowed.