Library / English Dictionary

FERMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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:

ferment; fermentation; fermenting; zymolysis; zymosis

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("ferment" is a kind of...):

chemical action; chemical change; chemical process ((chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ferment"):

bottom fermentation (a slow kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature low enough that the yeast cells can sink to the bottom of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of lager)

top fermentation (a violent kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature high enough to carry the yeast cells to the top of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of ale)

vinification (the process whereby fermentation changes grape juice into wine)

Derivation:

ferment (go sour or spoil)

ferment (cause to undergo fermentation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A state of agitation or turbulent change or development

Example:

social unrest

Synonyms:

agitation; ferment; fermentation; tempestuousness; unrest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("ferment" is a kind of...):

Sturm und Drang; turbulence; upheaval (a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A substance capable of bringing about fermentation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("ferment" is a kind of...):

substance (a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties)

Derivation:

ferment (go sour or spoil)

ferment (cause to undergo fermentation)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Go sour or spoil

Example:

The cream has turned--we have to throw it out

Synonyms:

ferment; sour; turn; work

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "ferment" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

ferment; work (cause to undergo fermentation)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

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

ferment (a substance capable of bringing about fermentation)

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to undergo fermentation

Example:

The vintner worked the wine in big oak vats

Synonyms:

ferment; work

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "ferment" is one way to...):

convert (change the nature, purpose, or function of something)

Cause:

ferment; sour; turn; work (go sour or spoil)

Verb group:

ferment; sour; turn; work (go sour or spoil)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ferment"):

vinify (convert a juice into wine by fermentation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

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

ferment (a substance capable of bringing about fermentation)

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

Work up into agitation or excitement

Example:

This religion is fermenting Africa

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "ferment" is one way to...):

fire up; heat; ignite; inflame; stir up; wake (arouse or excite feelings and passions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fermentation (a state of agitation or turbulent change or development)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be in an agitated or excited state

Example:

Her mind ferments

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "ferment" is one way to...):

boil; seethe (be in an agitated emotional state)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

fermentation (a state of agitation or turbulent change or development)

Credits

 Context examples: 

This species is motile, spore forming, catalase and superoxide dismutase positive, indole negative, and reduces nitrate, hydrolyzes starch, and does not ferment glucose or lactose.

(Bacillus subtilis, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, indole negative, does not ferment carbohydrates, reduces nitrate, and hydrolyzes esculin, but not starch.

(Bacteroides capillosus, NCI Thesaurus)

This bacteria is catalase and oxidase negative, ferments lactose, produces the exotoxin Pyolysin O and neuraminidases and is hemolytic.

(Arcanobacterium pyogenes, NCI Thesaurus)

This bacteria is non-motile, non spore forming, catalase negative, does not hydrolyze esculin or urea and ferments glycogen, erythritol and ribose.

(Arcanobacterium bernardiae, NCI Thesaurus)

This bacteria is motile, non sporeforming, oxidase and catalase positive, hydrolyzes esculin and ferments glucose, xylose and mannitol.

(Agrobacterium radiobacter, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, produces indole, hydrolyzes esculin and starch, reduces resazurin, but not neutral red or nitrate, produces hydrogen sulfate, ferments both melezitose and cellobiose, and is penicillin resistant.

(Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, indole positive, produces hydrogen sulfide, does not reduce nitrate, hydrolyzes esculin and starch, does not ferment trehalose, melezitose or arabinose, and is penicillin resistant.

(Bacteroides fragilis, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, catalase and indole negative and ferments only lactose and cellobiose.

(Bifidobacterium bifidum, NCI Thesaurus)

I held that life was a ferment, a yeasty something which devoured life that it might live, and that living was merely successful piggishness.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

An micronutrient-fortified fermented dairy product with potential positive immunomodulatory activity.

(Micronutrient-Fortified Probiotic Yogurt, NCI Thesaurus)