n.
Pronunciation: ˌ f ə r-m ə n- ' t ā -sh ə n, - ˌ men-
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 compound
2 : FERMENT 2