Lexic.us

Definition of Ferment

1. Verb. Be in an agitated or excited state. "Her mind ferments"

2. Noun. A state of agitation or turbulent change or development. "Social unrest"

3. Verb. Work up into agitation or excitement. "Islam is fermenting Africa"

4. Noun. A substance capable of bringing about fermentation.

5. Verb. Cause to undergo fermentation. "The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats"

6. Noun. A process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol.

7. Verb. Go sour or spoil. "The cream has turned--we have to throw it out"

Definition of Ferment

1. n. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.

2. v. t. To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat.

3. v. i. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.

Definition of Ferment

1. Verb. To react, using fermentation; especially to produce alcohol by aging or by allowing yeast to act on sugars; to brew. ¹

2. Verb. To stir up, agitate, cause unrest. ¹

3. Noun. Something, such as a yeast that causes fermentation. ¹

4. Noun. A state of agitation or of turbulent change. ¹

5. Noun. A catalyst. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ferment

1. to undergo a type of chemical reaction [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Ferment

1. To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat. "Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood." (Pope) Origin: L. Fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. Fermenter. See Ferment. 1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer. Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organised ferments. (b) Unorganised or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, etc. See Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt. 2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. "Subdue and cool the ferment of desire." (Rogers) "the nation is in a ferment." (Walpole) 3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. "Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran." (Thomson) ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchenists. Origin: L. Fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. For fervimentum, fr. Fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. Ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ferment

ferk ferklempt ferlie ferlied ferlier ferlies ferliest ferly ferlying ferm

fermacy fermata fermatas fermate ferme ferment (current term) fermentability fermentable fermental fermentation

fermentation Lactobacillus casei factor fermentation alcohol fermentation substrates fermentations fermentative fermentative dyspepsia fermentatively fermented fermenter fermenters

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