You searched for: “ferment”
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)
ferment, ferment, foment
ferment (FUR ment") (verb)
To undergo or to cause the gradual decomposition of an organic compound induced by enzymes, bacteria, yeast, etc.: Nathan wants to ferment hops and barley so he can make some beer at home.
ferment (FUR ment") (noun)
A situation in which there is much excitement and confusion caused by some kind of change: After the opposing political party finally won the election, the town was in a state of ferment.
foment (foh MENT) (verb)
To cause or to try to cause the growth or development of something bad or harmful: To foment or to incite people to plan a revolution without thinking can have very serious consequences!

In order to foment a revolt among the farm hands, the revolutionary forces spread lies which caused a state of ferment among the farmers.

They even went to the local pub and ordered beer which was made when the hops and barley could ferment together.

This entry is located in the following unit: Confusing Words Clarified: Group F; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. + (page 2)
A unit related to: “ferment”
zymo-, zym-, -zyme, -zymic
(Greek: ferment, fermentation; leavenl; a leavening agent, a leavening catalyst)
ferment-, fermento-
(Latin: yeast; substance containing enzymes that break down carbohydrates; from the Latin root of fervere, "to boil, to seethe")
Word Entries at Get Words containing the term: “ferment”
ferment-, fermento-
Latin: yeast; substance containing enzymes that break down carbohydrates; from the Latin root of fervere, "to boil, to seethe"; in this unit.
This entry is located in the following unit: Completed Units in Word Info and Get Words Sites That Have Been Enhanced and Upgraded (page 5)