Ferment: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is used when talking about a chemical process where substances break down into simpler substances, typically to produce alcohol or to preserve food.

• The grapes need to ferment for several weeks before they become wine
• Kimchi is made by fermenting cabbage and other vegetables

This word is often used when referring to the process of making beer, tea, or coffee by soaking, boiling, and fermenting.

• She likes to brew her own beer at home
• He woke up early to brew a fresh pot of coffee

This is used when discussing the creation of goods or results, typically in large quantities or in an industrial context.

• The factory produces thousands of cars every month
• Organic farms produce fruits and vegetables without using synthetic chemicals

A general word used for creating or producing various items or products. It’s not specific to any one process or type of product.

• She knows how to make delicious cakes
• They will make the new software by the end of the year

Though this is a repetition due to a possible typo, it can also be used metaphorically to describe a state of agitation or excitement.

• The political situation was in ferment.

More specific and technical, this term is used when referring to the process where enzymes, which are proteins, catalyze the decomposition of substances. It is usually mentioned in biological, chemical, or medical discussions.

• The enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates starts in the mouth.
• Different enzymes are responsible for the enzymatic breakdown of fats and proteins.

This term is typically used in scientific or environmental contexts to describe the process where bacteria decompose organic matter. It can also be used when talking about the digestive process in living organisms.

• The bacterial breakdown of waste in the landfill produces methane gas.
• Bacterial breakdown in the stomach helps digest food.

Similar to bacterial breakdown but more general, this term is used to describe the process by which various microorganisms decompose organic materials. It can be used in environmental sciences, waste management, and agriculture.

• Compost piles rely on microbial breakdown to convert plant waste into nutrient-rich soil.
• Microbial breakdown is essential in the treatment of sewage water.