Ferment - Definition

n 1: a state of agitation or turbulent change or development;
"the political ferment produced new leadership"; "social
unrest" [syn: agitation, ferment, fermentation,
tempestuousness, 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, 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: ferment, 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, ferment, work]