---
title: ferment — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ferment» in the school dictionary: To ferment means to change chemically because of yeast or bacteria, which break down sugar and make gas, acid or alcohol. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ferment

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ferment, yeast, We, balloon, city, Kimchi · **What happens:** mean, change, break down, make, ferment, cause · **To what, where:** sugar, gas, trouble, state, dough ferment, Cabbage · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ferment» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [ferment in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ferment.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ferment means to change chemically because of yeast or bacteria, which break down sugar and make gas, acid or alcohol.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:m1:1
# text = To ferment means to change chemically because of yeast or bacteria, which break down sugar and make gas, acid or alcohol.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ferment	ferment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	chemically	chemically	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	9	case	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	fixed	_	_
9	yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	bacteria	bacteria	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
13	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	break	break	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	_
15	down	down	ADP	RP	_	14	compound:prt	_	_
16	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
17	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
19	gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	acid	acid	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	appos	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	23	cc	_	_
23	alcohol	alcohol	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | ferment |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **change** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | ferment *not said here* |  |  |  |  | because yeast or bacteria; chemically *property* | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **break down** | present | yeast or bacteria | sugar |  |  |  |  | vn break-45.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sugar=Patient |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive | ferment *not said here* | gas |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset gas=Product |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To ferment trouble means to cause it or stir it up (more often «foment»).

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:m2:1
# text = To ferment trouble means to cause it or stir it up (more often «foment»).
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	ferment	ferment	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	stir	stir	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	up	up	ADP	RP	_	9	compound:prt	_	_
12	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	14	advmod	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	16	advmod	_	_
15	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	foment	foment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	16	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferment** | to-infinitive |  | trouble |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **cause** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | trouble |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition it=Patient |
| 4 | **stir up** | infinitive |  | trouble |  |  |  | foment *obl* | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition it=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: noun, formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ferment is a state of excitement, unrest or trouble in a group of people.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:m3:1
# text = A ferment is a state of excitement, unrest or trouble in a group of people.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ferment	ferment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	state	state	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	excitement	excitement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	unrest	unrest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	trouble	trouble	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ferment | a state |  |  |  | of excitement; unrest or trouble in a group of people *nmod* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Yeast makes the dough ferment and rise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x1:1
# text = Yeast makes the dough ferment and rise.
1	Yeast	yeast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	dough	dough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	ferment	ferment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	rise	rise	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | Yeast | the dough ferment |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset ferment=Product |
| 2 | **rise** | infinitive | Yeast *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Milk ferments into yoghurt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x2:1
# text = Milk ferments into yoghurt.
1	Milk	milk	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	ferments	ferment	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
3	into	into	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	yoghurt	yoghurt	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cabbage is fermented to make sauerkraut.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x3:1
# text = Cabbage is fermented to make sauerkraut.
1	Cabbage	cabbage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	fermented	ferment	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	sauerkraut	sauerkraut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferment** | present · passive |  | Cabbage |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | sauerkraut |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sauerkraut=Product |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grape juice fermented in big barrels.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x4:1
# text = The grape juice fermented in big barrels.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	grape	grape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	fermented	ferment	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	barrels	barrel	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferment** | participle |  | the grape juice *not said here* |  | big barrels |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We watched a balloon fill with gas from fermenting sugar water.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x5:1
# text = We watched a balloon fill with gas from fermenting sugar water.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	watched	watch	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	balloon	balloon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	fill	fill	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	gas	gas	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	from	from	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	fermenting	ferment	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	obl	_	_
10	sugar	sugar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	compound	_	_
11	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **watch** | past | We |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fill** | present | a balloon |  |  |  |  | with gas | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent with gas=Instrument |
| 3 | **ferment** | gerund |  | sugar water |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The city was in a ferment after the news.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x6:1
# text = The city was in a ferment after the news.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	city	city	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ferment	ferment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	news	news	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the city |  |  | a ferment | after the news |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Kimchi is fermented cabbage from Korea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ferment:x7:1
# text = Kimchi is fermented cabbage from Korea.
1	Kimchi	kimchi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	fermented	ferment	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	amod	_	_
4	cabbage	cabbage	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Korea	Korea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ferment** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn entity\_specific\_cos-45.5 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Kimchi | fermented cabbage |  | Korea |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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