ferment
    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]

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.
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   Note: Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized
         ferments. (b) Unorganized or structureless ferments.
         The latter are now called enzymes and were formerly
         called soluble ferments or chemical ferments.
         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 they are proteins 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. Before 1960 the term "ferment" to
         mean "enzyme" fell out of use. Enzymes are now known to
         be globular proteins, capable of catalyzing a wide
         variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic.
         The full set of enzymes causing production of ethyl
         alcohol from sugar has been identified and individually
         purified and studied. See enzyme.
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   2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.
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            Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. --Rogers.
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            the nation is in a ferment.           --Walpole.
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   3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a
      fluid; fermentation. [R.]
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            Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. --Thomson.
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   ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of
      plants, and not originally contained in them. These were
      the quintessences of the alchemists. --Ure.
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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 or fermentation in; to set in motion; to
   excite internal emotion in; to heat.
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         Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood.
                                                  --Pope.
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Ferment \Fer*ment"\, v. i.
   1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited
      into sensible internal motion, as the constituent
      particles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to
      effervesce.
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   2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.
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            But finding no redress, ferment and rage. --Milton.
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            The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect.
                                                  --De Quincey.
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