Fermentation Meaning
/ˌfɜːmənˈteɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny of many anaerobic biochemical reactions in which an enzyme (or several enzymes produced by a microorganism) catalyses the conversion of one substance into another; especially the conversion (using yeast) of sugars to alcohol or acetic acid with the evolution of carbon dioxide
nounA state of agitation or excitement; a ferment.
Sentence Examples
In about ten days the first fermentation will definitely be finished.
What's the difference between fermentation and putrescence?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ process in brewing beer requires careful temperature control to succeed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ process for making sourdough bread takes much longer than using commercial baker's yeast.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English fermentacioun, from Latin fermentātiō, fermentātiōnem. By surface analysis, ferment + -ation.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[T]he Grace that is then given to us is like a piece of Leven put into a lump of dough, and Faith and Repentance do in all the periods of our life put it into fermentation and activity."
— 1678, Jeremy Taylor, “The History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […]. The First Part.”, in Antiquitates Christianæ: Or, the History of the Life and Death of the Holy Jesus: […], London: […] E. Flesher, and R. Norton, for R[ichard] Royston, […], →OCLC, ad section IX (Considerations upon the Baptizing, Fasting, and Temptation of the Holy Jesus by the Devil), discourse IV (Of Baptism), part II (Of Baptizing Infants), page 130:
"The universal fusion of races, languages, and customs, which had gone on for four centuries under Roman rule, had produced a corresponding fusion of creeds, an universal fermentation of human thought and faith."
— 1852 January – 1853 April, Charles Kingsley, Jun., “Preface”, in Hypatia: Or, New Foes with an Old Face. […], volume I, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], published 1853, →OCLC, pages xi–xii:
"It seems that the spiritual fermentation of the cabbalists, who […] aroused the dormant susceptibilities of the Orient, penetrated also into Yemen and had the effect of a messianic message to the languishing souls longing for redemption."
— 1929, Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, Jewish Music: Its Historical Development, page 364:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ process in brewing beer requires careful temperature control to succeed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ process for making sourdough bread takes much longer than using commercial baker's yeast.