You searched for: “ferments
ferment (s) (FUR ment") (noun), ferments (pl)
1. A chemical that causes organic substances to change or breakdown into different elements: The ferment that results from chemical processes involves the use of bacteria, yeasts, or other micro-organisms which typically involve effervescence (bubbling) and give off heat.

Modern chemists recognize two classes of ferments:

A. Organized ferments, which are living vegetable organisms; such as, the yeast plant and other microscopic fungi.

B. Unorganized or chemical ferments, that consist of certain compounds of organic origin; such as, "diastase", "pepsin", etc.; which is now replaced in scientific use by "enzymes" or proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts or substances that modify and increase the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process.

2. Etymology: from Middle French ferment; from Latin fermentum, "leaven" (to raise, to make bread dough expand); from root of fervere, "to boil, to seethe, to foam".
This entry is located in the following unit: ferment-, fermento- (page 1)
ferment (verb), ferments; fermented; fermenting
1. To produce or to undergo a gradual chemical change in which yeast, bacteria, and enzymes change sugars into alcohol or lactic acid, a colorless, odorless acid that is formed in sour milk, etc: When Mike was visiting the winery, he learned that when grape juice ferments, it is part of the production of wine.
2. To seethe or to be disturbed by social agitation or excitement in order to promote changes: Demonstrations by union workers fermented when the company decided to reduce the number of employees, including Sharon's husband.

When a certain politician was caught taking part in drugs, the legislative members were fermenting to get him to quit and when that didn't work, they voted to reduce his power of office.

3. Etymology: from Latin, "leaven or yeast"; generally an agent that causes fermenting.
This entry is located in the following unit: ferment-, fermento- (page 1)