FERMENTING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fermenting mean? 

• FERMENTING (noun)
  The noun FERMENTING has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: FERMENTING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FERMENTING (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 ("fermenting" 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 "fermenting"):

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:

ferment (cause to undergo fermentation)

 Context examples 

This species is nonmotile, oxidase and indole negative, encapsulated and lactose fermenting.

(Klebsiella ozaenae, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is oxidase positive, non-fermenting and grows in plates containing testosterone.

(Comamonas testosteroni, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is non-fermenting, liquefies gelatin, reduces nitrate, does not hydrolyzes esculin or starch, nonhemolytic and catalase negative.

(Eggerthella lenta, NCI Thesaurus)

This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, catalase positive, oxidase, urease, indole and esculin negative, does not reduce nitrate, is non-fermenting, non-acid fast, and does not produce hydrogen sulfide; some subspecies are lipophilic and others non-lipophilic.

(Corynebacterium afermentans, NCI Thesaurus)

It was in obedience to law that the bird flew, and it was in obedience to the same law that fermenting slime had writhed and squirmed and put out legs and wings and become a bird.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)