noun
Uncommon
fermentation
fur-muhn-TAY-shuhn
Fermentation (noun) means the chemical process by which yeast, bacteria, or enzymes convert sugars into alcohol, acid, or gas, usually without oxygen. Example: “Fermentation is what turns barley and hops into beer.”
noun
1
The chemical process by which yeast, bacteria, or enzymes convert sugars into alcohol, acid, or gas, usually without oxygen.
"Fermentation is what turns barley and hops into beer."
"Yoghurt is made through the fermentation of milk by live bacteria."
How to use fermentation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe natural process behind bread, beer, wine, yoghurt, and pickles, where microbes break sugars down into something else.
Common pairings
alcoholic fermentation
the fermentation process
undergo fermentation
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Word forms
- Plural
- fermentations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ is what turns barley and hops into beer.
Etymology
From Latin fermentatio, built on fermentum, "leaven" — the substance that makes dough or drink "work."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for fermentation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for fermentation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “fermentation” mean?
The word “fermentation” means the chemical process by which yeast, bacteria, or enzymes convert sugars into alcohol, acid, or gas, usually without oxygen. In plain terms, the natural process behind bread, beer, wine, yoghurt, and pickles, where microbes break sugars down into something else.
How do you pronounce “fermentation”?
“Fermentation” is pronounced fur-muhn-TAY-shuhn (/ˌfɜɹmənˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “fermentation” in a sentence?
Here is “fermentation” used in a sentence: “Fermentation is what turns barley and hops into beer.”
What part of speech is “fermentation”?
“Fermentation” is a noun.
Where does the word “fermentation” come from?
The word “fermentation” comes from Latin. From Latin fermentatio, built on fermentum, "leaven" — the substance that makes dough or drink "work.".
Is “fermentation” a common word?
“Fermentation” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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