fermentation

fer·men·ta·tion

noun \ˌfər-mən-ˈtā-shən, -ˌmen-\

Definition of FERMENTATION

1

: a chemical change with effervescence

2

: 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 compound