fermentation

noun
/ˌfɜːmənˈteɪʃən/

Any of many anaerobic biochemical reactions in which an enzyme (or several enzymes produced by a microorganism) catalyses the conversion of one substance into another; especially the conversion (using yeast) of sugars to alcohol or acetic acid with the evolution of carbon dioxide

Other meanings

A state of agitation or excitement; a ferment.

Synonyms

unrest

Related words

alcoholic fermentation
autofermentation
biofermentation
bottom fermentation
cofermentation
fermentational
fermentation lock
gut fermentation syndrome
heterofermentation
homofermentation
homolactic fermentation
lactofermentation

Example sentences

“Anaerobic respiration is distinct from fermentation.”
Tatoeba · shekitten · CC0

Word history

From Latin "fermentātiō" (fermentātiō, fermentātiōnem).

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “fermentation” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.