ferment

Pronunciation

verb

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /fəˈmɛnt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /fɚˈmɛnt/

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noun

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈfɜːmɛnt/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈfɝmɛnt/

Verb

Plain form ferment

Third-person singular ferments

Past tense fermented

Past participle fermented

Present participle fermenting

1. When something ferments, it turns into alcohol. This happens when sugar in fruit or grain ages or is acted on by yeast.

   When the grape juice was left in a barrel for a year, it fermented into wine.

2. When you ferment an emotion, you stir it up or arouse it.

   The preacher fermented anger with the government from the pulpit.

Noun

Singular ferment

Plural ferments

1. A ferment is a state of arousal or change.

   There was a ferment of reform caused by the Second Great Awakening.

Related words

• fermentation