Link Centre Dictionary

ferment

fer·ment

UK/ˈfɜː.mɛnt/ US/ˈfɚ.mɛnt/ rare
noun (4) verb (4)

noun

1.

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

  • “the political ferment produced a new leadership”
  • “social unrest”
Synonyms
2.
3.

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

Synonyms
4.

a chemical phenomenon in which an organic molecule splits into simpler substances

Synonyms

verb

1.

be in an agitated or excited state

  • “The Middle East is fermenting”
  • “Her mind ferments”
2.

work up into agitation or excitement

  • “Islam is fermenting Africa”
3.

cause to undergo fermentation

  • “We ferment the grapes for a very long time to achieve high alcohol content”
  • “The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats”
Synonyms
4.

go sour or spoil

  • “The milk has soured”
  • “The wine worked”
  • “The cream has turned--we have to throw it out”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English ferment, from Middle French ferment, from Latin fermentāre (“to leaven, ferment”), from fermentum (“substance causing fermentation”), possibly from contraction of *fervimentum, from fervēre. See also fervent.

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.