Fermentation

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Fermentation \Fer`men*ta"tion\ (f[~e]r`m[e^]n*t[=a]"sh[u^]n), n.
     [Cf. F. fermentation.]
     1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by
        the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.),
        the transformation of an organic substance into new
        compounds by the action of a {ferment[1]}, whether in the


        form of living organisms or enzymes. It differs in kind
        according to the nature of the ferment which causes it.
  
     Note: In industrial microbiology fermentation usually refers
           to the production of chemical substances by use of
           microorganisms.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or
        the feelings.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It puts the soul to fermentation and activity.
                                                    --Jer. Taylor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith.
                                                    --C. Kingsley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Acetous fermentation} or {Acetic fermentation}, a form of
        oxidation in which alcohol is converted into vinegar or
        acetic acid by the agency of a specific fungus ({Mycoderma
        aceti}) or series of enzymes. The process involves two
        distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is
        essential. An intermediate product, acetaldehyde, is
        formed in the first process. 1. C2H6O + O [rarr] H2O +
        C2H4O
  
     Note: Alcohol. Water. Acetaldehyde. 2. C2H4O + O [rarr]
           C2H4O2
  
     Note: Acetaldehyde. Acetic acid.
  
     {Alcoholic fermentation}, the fermentation which saccharine
        bodies undergo when brought in contact with the yeast
        plant or Torula. The sugar is converted, either directly
        or indirectly, into alcohol and carbonic acid, the rate of
        action being dependent on the rapidity with which the
        Torul[ae] develop.
  
     {Ammoniacal fermentation}, the conversion of the urea of the
        urine into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of the
        special urea ferment. CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3
  
     Note: Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels
           for several days it undergoes this alkaline
           fermentation.
  
     {Butyric fermentation}, the decomposition of various forms of
        organic matter, through the agency of a peculiar
        worm-shaped vibrio, with formation of more or less butyric
        acid. It is one of the many forms of fermentation that
        collectively constitute putrefaction. See {Lactic
        fermentation}.
  
     {enzymatic fermentation} or {Fermentation by an unorganized
     ferment}. Fermentations of this class are purely chemical
        reactions, in which the enzyme acts as a simple catalytic
        agent. Of this nature are the decomposition or inversion
        of cane sugar into levulose and dextrose by boiling with
        dilute acids, the conversion of starch into dextrin and
        sugar by similar treatment, the conversion of starch into
        like products by the action of diastase of malt or ptyalin
        of saliva, the conversion of albuminous food into peptones
        and other like products by the action of
        pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice or by the
        ferment of the pancreatic juice.
  
     {Fermentation theory of disease} (Biol. & Med.), the theory
        that most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are
        caused by the introduction into the organism of the living
        germs of ferments, or ferments already developed
        (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation
        are set up injurious to health. See {Germ theory}.
  
     {Glycerin fermentation}, the fermentation which occurs on
        mixing a dilute solution of glycerin with a peculiar
        species of schizomycetes and some carbonate of lime, and
        other matter favorable to the growth of the plant, the
        glycerin being changed into butyric acid, caproic acid,
        butyl, and ethyl alcohol. With another form of bacterium
        ({Bacillus subtilis}) ethyl alcohol and butyric acid are
        mainly formed.
  
     {Lactic fermentation}, the transformation of milk sugar or
        other saccharine body into lactic acid, as in the souring
        of milk, through the agency of a special bacterium
        ({Bacterium lactis} of Lister). In this change the milk
        sugar, before assuming the form of lactic acid, presumably
        passes through the stage of glucose. C12H22O11.H2O -->
        4C3H6O3
  
     Note: Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the
           lactic acid which is formed is very prone to undergo
           butyric fermentation after the manner indicated in the
           following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic acid) --> C4H8O2
           (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen
           gas).
  
     {Putrefactive fermentation}. See {Putrefaction}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  fermentation
       n 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 [syn: {zymosis},
             {zymolysis}, {fermenting}, {ferment}]
       2: a state of agitation or turbulent change or development;
          "the political ferment produced a new leadership"; "social
          unrest" [syn: {agitation}, {ferment}, {unrest}]
       3: a chemical phenomenon in which an organic molecule splits
          into simpler substances [syn: {ferment}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  112 Moby Thesaurus words for "fermentation":
     acescence, acetification, acidification, acidulation, ado,
     agitation, alkalization, bluster, bobbery, boil, boiling, brouhaha,
     bubbliness, bubbling, bustle, carbonation, catalysis,
     chemicalization, churn, commotion, conturbation, discomposure,
     disorder, disquiet, disquietude, disturbance, ebullience,
     ebulliency, ebullition, eddy, effervescence, effervescency,
     electrolysis, embroilment, excitement, feery-fary, ferment, fever,
     feverishness, fidgets, fizz, fizzle, flap, flurry, fluster,
     flutteration, foaming, foment, frothiness, frothing, fume, fuss,
     hubbub, hurly-burly, hurry, hurry-scurry, hydrogenation,
     inquietude, isomerism, jitters, jumpiness, leaven, leavening,
     maelstrom, malaise, metamerism, metamerization, moil, nerviness,
     nervosity, nervousness, nitration, oxidation, oxidization,
     pell-mell, perturbation, phosphatization, polymerism,
     polymerization, position isomerism, reduction, restlessness, roil,
     rout, row, ruffle, saturization, seethe, seething, souring,
     sparkle, spumescence, stir, swirl, swirling, to-do, trepidation,
     trepidity, tumult, tumultuation, turbidity, turbulence, turmoil,
     twitter, unease, unrest, uproar, upset, vortex, whirl, working,
     yeastiness