Found 2 items, similar to ferment.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: ferment ferment n 1: a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; “the political ferment produced a new leadership”; “social unrest” [syn: agitation, fermentation, unrest] 2: a substance capable of bringing about fermentation 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 [syn: zymosis, zymolysis, fermentation, fermenting] 4: a chemical phenomenon in which an organic molecule splits into simpler substances [syn: fermentation] ferment v 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” [syn: work] 4: go sour or spoil; “The milk has soured”; “The wine worked”; “The cream has turned--we have to throw it out” [syn: sour, turn, work]
English → English (gcide) Definition: Ferment Ferment \Fer"ment\, n. [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent.] 1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer. [1913 Webster] Note: Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized ferments. (b) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are now called enzymes and were formerly called soluble ferments or chemical ferments. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment , etc. See Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances; as a rule they are proteins soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt. Before 1960 the term “ferment” to mean “enzyme” fell out of use. Enzymes are now known to be globular proteins, capable of catalyzing a wide variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic. The full set of enzymes causing production of ethyl alcohol from sugar has been identified and individually purified and studied. See enzyme. [1913 Webster +PJC] 2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. [1913 Webster] Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. --Rogers. [1913 Webster] the nation is in a ferment. --Walpole. [1913 Webster] 3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.] [1913 Webster] Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. --Thomson. [1913 Webster] ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchemists. --Ure. [1913 Webster] Ferment \Fer*ment"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting.] [L. fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. fermenter. See Ferment, n.] To cause ferment or fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat. [1913 Webster] Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood. --Pope. [1913 Webster] Ferment \Fer*ment"\, v. i. 1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce. [1913 Webster] 2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions. [1913 Webster] But finding no redress, ferment and rage. --Milton. [1913 Webster] The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]