Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Fermentation has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
"the political ferment produced new leadership"
"social unrest"
a process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances; especially, the anaerobic breakdown of sugar into alcohol
"The baker noticed that her sourdough starter was bubbling vigorously because wild yeast had begun fermenting the sugars in the flour."
Any of many anaerobic biochemical reactions in which an enzyme (or several enzymes produced by a microorganism) catalyses the conversion of one substance into another; especially the conversion (using yeast) of sugars to alcohol or acetic acid with the evolution of carbon dioxide
"The home brewer carefully monitored the fermentation process to ensure the yeast converted all the grape sugars into smooth wine."