zymo-, zym-, -zyme, -zymic

The scientific study of the principles of fermentation: Zymotechnolgy was an area of biotechnology that interested Bruce very much because it involved the brewing techniques for beer.

The art of stimulating fermentation: Since Joan was interested in winemaking, she had to investigate the tricks of zymotechny so that the zymolytic process would succeed.

1. Relating to, or caused by, fermentation: In biochemistry Patty learned about the zymotic effects in making alcoholic beverages.
2. Pertaining to certain contagious diseases or infections: Nancy's mother wondered where her daughter might have caught such a zymotic illness, which was evidently quite transmissible..
3. Descriptive of a contagious condition of a disease which is produced by some organism acting on the physical system like a ferment: Mrs. Smith's state of health was evidently a zymotic illness which was widespread in the area where she lived.

1. "Human-crowd diseases" or in other species defined as "herd diseases": Examples of zymotics include the whooping cough, measles, and tuberculosis.
2. Diseases which persist when a population is dense enough to keep transmitting germs and big enough to keep producing new susceptibles: Epidemiologists say that COVID-19 belongs to the illnesses termed zymotics, which are severe illnesses that can cause death.

A couple of examples of the word zymotics being used in prior writings

Small-pox is one of a group of allied diseases, called the Zymotics. The name means that the disease is due to a process of fermentation.

For common-sense purposes, it is better to call these diseases by the plain English name of filth diseases.

They are diseases which take their rise in filth, which are nature's punishment for filth, which are both frequent and virulent where filth prevails, and which can be cleared away by the clearing away of filth.

Now, in the eighteenth century, in the latter part of which Jenner lived, it must be confessed that the English people had not yet awakened to the beauty and the necessity of cleanliness.

Filth was universal, and small-pox was terrible. Not so terrible as many people want to make out, but still a formidable danger.

"Only when a community is dense and filthy enough to keep spreading germs and big enough to keep supplying new susceptibles do such infections as measles, smallpox, typhoid, and influenza crowd diseases or zymotics stay in circulation."

Relating to fermentative and toxic action: There are some people who are resistent or immune to such zymotoxic activities of diseases.

1. The branch of chemistry dealing with brewing and distilling: Doug was especially interested in zymurgy in his class at school because he wanted to continue his father's winery after completing his studies.
2. The branch of chemical technology dealing with the application of fermentation or enzymic action: Zymurgy is an important component in an industrial process, such as the curing of cheese, processing of leather, and the production of organic solvents.

A kind of ancient Egyptian malt beverage; a liquor made from malt and wheat: When Cindy was perusing through her old cookbook she found a recipe for zythum, a nutritious drink which didn't need any fermentation.