4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ferment  \Fer"ment\,  n.  [L.  fermentum  ferment  (in  senses  1  &  2), 
  perh.  for  fervimentum  fr  fervere  to  be  boiling  hot,  boil, 
  ferment:  cf  F.  ferment.  Cf  1st  {Barm},  {Fervent}.] 
  1.  That  which  causes  fermentation,  as  yeast,  barm,  or 
  fermenting  beer. 
 
  Note:  Ferments  are  of  two  kinds:  ({a})  Formed  or  organized 
  ferments.  ({b})  Unorganized  or  structureless  ferments. 
  The  latter  are  also  called  {soluble  or  chemical 
  ferments},  and  {enzymes}.  Ferments  of  the  first  class 
  are  as  a  rule  simple  microscopic  vegetable  organisms, 
  and  the  fermentations  which  they  engender  are  due  to 
  their  growth  and  development;  as  the  {acetic  ferment}, 
  the  {butyric  ferment},  etc  See  {Fermentation}. 
  Ferments  of  the  second  class,  on  the  other  hand,  are 
  chemical  substances,  as  a  rule  soluble  in  glycerin  and 
  precipitated  by  alcohol.  In  action  they  are  catalytic 
  and  mainly,  hydrolytic.  Good  examples  are  pepsin  of 
  the  dastric  juice,  ptyalin  of  the  salvia,  and  disease 
  of  malt. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ferment  \Fer*ment"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Fermented};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Fermenting}.]  [L.  fermentare  fermentatum:  cf  F. 
  fermenter.  See  {Ferment},  n.] 
  To  cause  ferment  of  fermentation  in  to  set  in  motion;  to 
  excite  internal  emotion  in  to  heat. 
 
  Ye  vigorous  swains!  while  youth  ferments  your  blood. 
  --Pope. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ferment  \Fer*ment"\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  undergo  fermentation;  to  be  in  motion,  or  to  be  excited 
  into  sensible  internal  motion,  as  the  constituent 
  oarticles  of  an  animal  or  vegetable  fluid;  to  work  to 
  effervesce. 
 
  2.  To  be  agitated  or  excited  by  violent  emotions. 
 
  But  finding  no  redress,  ferment  an  rage.  --Milton. 
 
  The  intellect  of  the  age  was  a  fermenting  intellect. 
  --De  Quincey. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ferment 
  n  1:  a  state  of  agitation  or  turbulent  change  or  development: 
  "the  political  ferment  produced  a  new  leadership"; 
  "social  unrest"  [syn:  {agitation},  {fermentation},  {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}] 
  4:  a  chemical  phenomenon  in  which  an  organic  molecule  splits 
  into  simpler  substances  [syn:  {fermentation}] 
  v  1:  cause  to  undergo  fermentation;  "We  ferment  the  grapes  for  a 
  very  long  time  to  achieve  high  alcohol  content" 
  2:  go  sour  or  spoil;  "The  milk  has  soured"  [syn:  {sour},  {turn}] 

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