"ferment" in the noun sense

1. agitation, ferment, fermentation, tempestuousness, unrest

a state of agitation or turbulent change or development

"the political ferment produced new leadership"

"social unrest"

2. ferment

a substance capable of bringing about fermentation

3. zymosis, zymolysis, fermentation, fermenting, ferment

a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol

"ferment" in the verb sense

1. ferment

be in an agitated or excited state

"The Middle East is fermenting"

"Her mind ferments"

2. ferment

work up into agitation or excitement

"This religion is fermenting Africa"

3. ferment, work

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"

4. sour, turn, ferment, work

go sour or spoil

"The milk has soured"

"The wine worked"

"The cream has turned

Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)

Princeton University "About WordNet®."
WordNet®. Princeton University. 2010.

View WordNet® License