ferment

[ noun fur-ment; verb fer-ment ]

noun

1. Also called organized ferment. any of a group of living organisms, as yeasts, molds, and certain bacteria, that cause fermentation.
2. Also called unorganized ferment. an enzyme.
3. fermentation.
4. agitation; unrest; excitement; commotion; tumult:

   The new painters worked in a creative ferment.

   The capital lived in a political ferment.

verb (used with object)

1. to act upon as a ferment.
2. to cause to undergo fermentation.
3. to inflame; foment:

   to ferment prejudiced crowds to riot.

4. to cause agitation or excitement in:

   Reading fermented his active imagination.

verb (used without object)

1. to be fermented; undergo fermentation.
2. to seethe with agitation or excitement.

ferment

noun

1. any agent or substance, such as a bacterium, mould, yeast, or enzyme, that causes fermentation
2. another word for fermentation
3. commotion; unrest

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo fermentation
2. to stir up or seethe with excitement

Usage

See foment

Derived Forms

• ferˈmentable, adjective
• ferˌmentaˈbility, noun
• ferˈmenter, noun

Other Words From

• fer·ment·a·ble adjective
• fer·ment·a·bil·i·ty [fer-men-t, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• non·fer·ment·a·bil·i·ty noun
• non·fer·ment·a·ble adjective
• non·fer·ment·ed adjective
• non·fer·ment·ing adjective
• un·fer·ment·a·ble adjective
• un·fer·ment·ed adjective
• un·fer·ment·ing adjective
• well-fer·ment·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferment¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin fermentum “yeast” (noun), fermentāre “to cause to rise” (verb), equivalent to fer(vēre) “to boil” + -mentum -ment ( def ); fervent

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferment¹

C15: from Latin fermentum yeast, from fervēre to seethe

Example Sentences

The bundle is left to ferment in a warm, humid place for about a day and a half.

From Salon

Out of this angry ferment came two very different expressions of anti-establishment politics.

From Salon

One simple strategy is focusing on the four F's of food: fiber, phytochemicals, unsaturated fats and fermented foods.

From Salon

You can already buy whey products such as fermented drinks and protein powders.

From Salon

The small fermenting tanks from my last visit had been replaced by much larger ones that she was planning to return because their tops wouldn’t open without hitting the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• commotion
• disquiet
• excitement
• frenzy
• restlessness
• tumult
• turbulence
• unrest
• upheaval
• uproar