ZYMOSIS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does zymosis mean? 

• ZYMOSIS (noun)
  The noun ZYMOSIS has 2 senses:

1. a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol

2. (medicine) the development and spread of an infectious disease (especially one caused by a fungus)

  Familiarity information: ZYMOSIS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZYMOSIS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

ferment; fermentation; fermenting; zymolysis; zymosis

Hypernyms ("zymosis" is a kind of...):

chemical action; chemical change; chemical process ((chemistry) any process determined by the atomic and molecular composition and structure of the substances involved)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "zymosis"):

bottom fermentation (a slow kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature low enough that the yeast cells can sink to the bottom of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of lager)

top fermentation (a violent kind of alcoholic fermentation at a temperature high enough to carry the yeast cells to the top of the fermenting liquid; used in the production of ale)

vinification (the process whereby fermentation changes grape juice into wine)

Derivation:

zymotic (of or relating to or causing fermentation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(medicine) the development and spread of an infectious disease (especially one caused by a fungus)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Hypernyms ("zymosis" is a kind of...):

infection ((medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "zymosis"):

fungal infection; mycosis (an inflammatory condition caused by a fungus)

Derivation:

zymotic (relating to or caused by infection)