ferment
n 1: a state of agitation or turbulent change or development:
"the political ferment produced a new leadership";
"social unrest" [syn: {agitation}, {fermentation}, {unrest}]
2: a substance capable of bringing about fermentation
3: a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to
break down into simpler substances; especially, the
anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol [syn: {zymosis},
{zymolysis}, {fermentation}, {fermenting}]
4: a chemical phenomenon in which an organic molecule splits
into simpler substances [syn: {fermentation}]
v 1: cause to undergo fermentation; "We ferment the grapes for a
very long time to achieve high alcohol content"
2: go sour or spoil; "The milk has soured" [syn: {sour}, {turn}]