Ferment

Ferment
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. [1913 Webster]

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 protein}s, 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}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. [1913 Webster]

Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. --Rogers. [1913 Webster]

the nation is in a ferment. --Walpole. [1913 Webster]

3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

{ferment oils}, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchemists. --Ure. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , / , , , , , , , / , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • ferment — [ fɛrmɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1380; lat. fermentum « levain », du supin de fervere « bouillir » 1 ♦ Ce qui fait naître un sentiment, une idée, ce qui détermine un changement interne. Un ferment de discorde. ⇒ germe, levain. Individus qui sont des ferments d …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • ferment — FERMÉNT, fermenţi, s.m. (biol.) Substanţă proteică produsă de celule vii sau de microorganisme, care dirijează prin cataliză reacţiile de sinteză şi de degradare din organismele animalelor, plantelor şi microorganismelor, având un rol fundamental …   Dicționar Român

  • Ferment — Sn Mittel um einen chemischen Prozeß durchzuführen per. Wortschatz fach. (15. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. fermentum Gärung, Sauerteig , einer Ableitung von l. fervēre wallen, sieden . Verb: fermentieren; Abstraktum: Fermentation.    Ebenso… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • ferment — ferment, foment 1. Ferment is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable as a noun and with the stress on the second syllable as a verb. 2. As verbs, ferment and foment are often confused because they are pronounced approximately the same… …   Modern English usage

  • ferment — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. fermentncie {{/stl 8}}{{stl 20}} {{/stl 20}}{{stl 12}}1. {{/stl 12}}{{stl 7}} niepokój (także twórczy), wrzenie, wzburzenie : {{/stl 7}}{{stl 10}}Ferment społeczny, polityczny, kulturalny. Wywoływać… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • 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. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ferment — (v.) late 14c., from O.Fr. fermenter (13c.) and directly from L. fermentare to leaven, ferment, from fermentum substance causing fermentation, leaven, from root of fervere to boil, seethe (see BREW (Cf. brew)). Figurative use from 1650s. Related …   Etymology dictionary

  • ferment — [n1] substance causing chemicals to split into simpler substances bacteria, bacterium, barm, ebullition, enzyme, fermentation agent, leaven, leavening, mold, seethe, simmer, yeast; concept 478 ferment [n2] agitation, uprising ailment, brouhaha,… …   New thesaurus

  • 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. [1913 Webster] 2. To be agitated or excited by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ferment — FERMENT. s. m. Terme Dogmatique. Ce qui agite, & divise les parties les plus grossieres d un corps, en sorte qu il vient à se gonfler, & à occuper plus de place. Cela sert de ferment …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”