fermento

ferment

noun fer-MEN-toh Rare

Origin: From Latin fermentum (leaven, yeast).

Also means

yeast

Usage Note

Fermento means both a literal fermenting agent (yeast, lievito is more common in cooking) and, figuratively, a state of agitation or excitement: un periodo di grande fermento (a period of great ferment). The plural i fermenti is regular. Fermenti lattici (lactic ferments/probiotics) appears on food labels.

Examples

"La città è in fermento per la festa."

Natural Translation

The city is in a ferment over the festival.

Literal Translation

The city is in ferment for the festival.

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