ferment

 

verb

Pronunciation: /fəˈmɛnt/
  • 1 [no object] (of a substance) undergo fermentation: the drink had fermented, turning some of the juice into alcohol
  • [with object] cause the fermentation of (a substance).
  • 2 [with object] incite or stir up (trouble or disorder): the politicians and warlords who are fermenting this chaos

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfəːmɛnt/
  • 1 [mass noun] agitation and excitement among a group of people, typically concerning major change and leading to trouble or violence: a period of political and religious ferment
  • 2 archaic a fermenting agent or enzyme.

Derivatives

fermentable

Pronunciation: /-ˈmɛntəb(ə)l/
adjective

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French ferment (noun), fermenter (verb), based on Latin fermentum 'yeast', from fervere 'to boil'