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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

ferment

Verb

IPA /fəˈment/

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Meaning in plain English

To change chemically through the action of yeast or bacteria.

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Pronunciation

ferment/fəˈment/

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  1. Juice contains sugar and yeast

  2. Yeast changes the sugar chemically

  3. The mixture's composition changes

When juice begins to ferment, microorganisms cause chemical changes in it.

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  1. The juice began to ferment in the bottle.
  2. The students observed how the mixture fermented during the experiment.

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The juice began to ________ in the bottle.
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ferment — To change chemically through the action of yeast or bacteria.

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To change chemically through the action of yeast or bacteria.

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Word origin

From French fermenter, based on Latin fermentum, meaning yeast.

Did you know?

Fermentation is the noun for the process.

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ferment

/fəˈment/ (Verb)

“This entry uses ferment as a verb, with stress on the second syllable: /fəˈment/.”

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