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fermentation
This term describes a slow, invisible transformation where organic matter is converted into something chemically distinct. It carries a strong association with preservation, alchemy, and the biological process of decay being harnessed for human benefit, such as in sourdough or kimchi. In a social or political sense, the word evokes a feeling of simmering tension or hidden growth. It suggests a state of instability and agitation that precedes a sudden eruption or a major change, like the fermentation of a revolution.
Uncountable when referring to the general biological process of anaerobic respiration. Countable when referring to a specific batch or a particular instance of the process, such as a fermentation in a vat.