Main Entry:

fer·men·ta·tion

Pronunciation:

\ˌfər-mən-ˈtā-shən, -ˌmen-\

Function:

noun

Date:

1601

1 a: a chemical change with effervescence b: an enzymatically controlled anaerobic breakdown of an energy-rich compound (as a carbohydrate to carbon dioxide and alcohol or to an organic acid) ; broadly : an enzymatically controlled transformation of an organic compound2: ferment 2