yeast

1 of 2

noun

ˈyēst How to pronounce yeast (audio)
 especially Southern and Midland US  ˈēst
1
a
: a yellowish surface froth or sediment that occurs especially in saccharine liquids (such as fruit juices) in which it promotes alcoholic fermentation, consists largely of cells of a fungus (such as the saccharomyces, Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and is used especially in the making of alcoholic liquors and as a leaven in baking
b
: a commercial product containing yeast fungi in a moist or dry medium
c(1)
: a unicellular fungus that is present and functionally active in yeast, usually has little or no mycelium, and reproduces by budding
(2)
: any of various similar fungi
2
archaic : the foam or spume of waves
3
: something that causes ferment or activity
were all seething with the yeast of revoltJ. F. Dobie
yeast-like adjective
or less commonly yeastlike
ˈyēst-ˌlīk How to pronounce yeast (audio)
 especially Southern and Midland US  ˈēst-

yeast

2 of 2

verb

yeasted; yeasting; yeasts

Examples of yeast in a Sentence

Noun taxation without representation proved to be the yeast of rebellion
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The pale yellow or gold yeast is also gluten- and dairy-free. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2024 But mainly, vitamin D2 is derived from yeast and fungal sources in order to fortify other foods or be used in supplements. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 This mezcal is fermented in open-air wooden vats and utilizes wild yeasts. Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 That’s all thanks to yeast, which eats up the sugar and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 21 Feb. 2024 But a winemaker producing Port can stop this process early by adding grape spirit, which kills the remaining yeast and leaves residual sugar behind. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2024 Wood and Rubio are both working to create such proteins, in plants and yeast. Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024 Simply plug in the device, add your yeast and ingredients and tend to your brew when residue needs removing. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024 So the 1927 author explains that yeast arriving in the Lowlands was still healthy and pure and produced a light, fruity spirit. Mark Littler, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Making wine is as simple as crushing the grapes and waiting—the juice is so high in sugar that yeasts on the skin will ferment the juice, creating alcohol. Alex Mayyasi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023 Make dough: Add eggs, shortening, sugar, salt, 2 cups of the flour, and remaining 1 cup warm water to yeast mixture. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2023 Add shortening mixture to yeast mixture along with 4 cups bread flour. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 20 July 2023 To create tiny morphine factories, scientists added to yeast genetic components from poppy, sugar beets, and a soil bacterium. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 20 May 2015 Spring Valley Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules are preservative-free, artificial coloring and flavoring-free, and also yeast, wheat, milk, lactose, and sugar-free. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2022 Lichens are symbiotic organisms of fungi, algae and possibly yeast that live off each other, not your tree. Jessica Damiano, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2023 Some dogs, on the other hand, are allergic to yeast. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022 Here, the liquid becomes wine thanks to yeast that transforms the grape juice into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yeast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English yest, from Old English gist; akin to Old High German jesen, gesen to ferment, Greek zein to boil

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yeast was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near yeast

Cite this Entry

“Yeast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yeast. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

yeast

noun
ˈyēst,
ˈēst
1
a
: a one-celled fungus that produces alcohol during the process of fermentation
also : any of various similar fungi
b
: a yellowish foamy material that may occur on the surface of sweet liquids (as fruit juices) undergoing fermentation and that consists chiefly of yeast cells and carbon dioxide
c
: a commercial product containing living yeast cells that is used mostly in the making of alcoholic beverages and as a leaven especially in baking bread
2
: something that causes motion or activity
yeasty
ˈyē-stē
ˈē-stē
adjective

Medical Definition

yeast

noun
1
: a unicellular chiefly ascomycetous fungus (as of the family Saccharomycetaceae) that has usually little or no mycelium, that typically reproduces asexually by budding, and that includes forms (as Saccharomyces cerevisiae) which cause alcoholic fermentation and are used especially in the making of alcoholic beverages and leavened bread
2
: a yellowish surface froth or sediment that occurs especially in sugary fermenting liquids (as fruit juices) and consists chiefly of yeast cells and carbon dioxide
3
: a commercial product containing yeast cells in a moist or dry medium
yeastlike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on yeast

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