Definition

1. Noun:

   • A chemical process of breaking down: A process, often involving yeast or bacteria, in which an organic substance breaks down into simpler substances. This is especially used for the anaerobic conversion of sugar to alcohol in winemaking and brewing.
   • An agent causing fermentation: A substance, such as yeast or a bacterial culture, that causes fermentation.
   • A state of agitation or excitement: A state of social or political unrest, turbulence, or intense activity.

2. Verb:

   • To undergo fermentation: To undergo a chemical change where microorganisms like yeast produce alcohol, gases, or acids.
   • To cause fermentation: To cause a substance to undergo fermentation.
   • To excite or agitate: To stir up, excite, or cause unrest.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The ferment in the barrel turned the grape juice into wine. (The chemical process in the barrel...)
  • Brewer's yeast is a common ferment. (Brewer's yeast is a common agent.)
  • The city was in a state of political ferment before the election. (The city was in a state of political agitation...)

• Verb:

  • The cider will ferment for several weeks. (The cider will undergo fermentation...)
  • They ferment the cabbage to make kimchi. (They cause the cabbage to undergo fermentation...)
  • The speaker's words served to ferment rebellion among the crowd. (The speaker's words served to excite rebellion...)

Advanced Usage

• "In a ferment": In a state of intense activity or agitation.
  • The news left the whole office in a ferment.
• "Ferment of ideas": A period of intense intellectual activity and generation of new ideas.
  • The Renaissance was a great ferment of ideas.

Variants and Related Words

• Fermentation (n): The chemical process itself. (e.g., )
• Fermentable (adj): Capable of being fermented. (e.g., )
• Fermenter/Fermentor (n): A vessel or an organism that causes fermentation.

Synonyms

• Noun (process/agent): Leaven, yeast, starter, culture.
• Noun (state): Turmoil, unrest, agitation, turbulence, upheaval.
• Verb (to ferment): Brew, leaven, sour (when spoiling).
• Verb (to excite): Agitate, foment, incite, stir up, inflame.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Ferment" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "To be in a state of ferment": Synonymous with "in a ferment," meaning to be in a condition of excitement or unrest.
  • The artistic community was in a constant state of ferment.

Noun

1. a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
2. a substance capable of bringing about fermentation
3. a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
   • the political ferment produced new leadership
   • social unrest

Verb

1. go sour or spoil
   • The milk has soured
   • The wine worked
   • The cream has turned--we have to throw it out
2. 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
3. work up into agitation or excitement
   • Islam is fermenting Africa
4. be in an agitated or excited state
   • The Middle East is fermenting
   • Her mind ferments