ferment

Meanings

Verb

• To react, using fermentation; especially to produce alcohol by aging or by allowing yeast to act on sugars; to brew.
• To stir up, agitate, cause unrest or excitement in.

Noun

• Something, such as a yeast or barm, that causes fermentation.
• A state of agitation or of turbulent change.
• A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation.
• A catalyst.

Origin

• From Middle French ferment, from Latin fermentare, from fermentum, from fervere. See also fervent.