Yeast is a kind of fungus which is used to make bread rise, and in making alcoholic drinks such as beer.
yeast in British English
(jiːst)
noun
1.
any of various single-celled ascomycetous fungi of the genus Saccharomyces and related genera, which reproduce by budding and are able to ferment sugars: a rich source of vitamins of the B complex
2.
any yeastlike fungus, esp of the genus Candida, which can cause thrush in areas infected with it
3.
a commercial preparation containing yeast cells and inert material such as meal, used in raising dough for bread or for fermenting beer, whisky, etc
See also brewer's yeast
4.
a preparation containing yeast cells, used to treat diseases caused by vitamin B deficiency
5.
froth or foam, esp on beer
verb
6. (intransitive)
to froth or foam
Derived forms
yeastless (ˈyeastless)
adjective
yeastlike (ˈyeastˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English giest; related to Old Norse jostr, Old High German jesan, Swedish esa, Norwegian asa, Sanskrit yasati
yeast in American English
(jist)
noun
1.
any of various single-celled ascomycetous fungi in which little or no mycelium develops and which ordinarily reproduce by budding: they ferment sugars to form alcohol and carbon dioxide
; esp.,
a.
any of various yeasts (esp. genus Saccharomyces) used in food production, as in making beer, wine, etc. and as a leavening in baking
b.
any of various yeasts (esp. genus Candida) causing infections or diseases
2.
brewer's yeast
3.
a.
the yellowish, moist mass of yeast plants occurring as a froth on fermenting solutions
b.
this substance dried in flakes or granules or compressed into cakes
4.
foam; froth
5.
a.
something that agitates or causes ferment; leaven
b.
ferment; agitation
verb intransitive
6. Rare
to froth or ferment
Word origin
ME yest < OE gist, akin to Ger gischt, spray, froth & OHG jesan, to ferment < IE base *yes-, to foam, boil up > Gr zein, to boil, seethe
Place the flour and salt in a large bowl and stir in the sugar and yeast, making a well in the centre.
The Sun (2016)
Add the salt and yeast and stir around.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Multiple allergies are frequently present with a yeast infection.
MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)
Sift the flour into a bowl with the sugar and yeast.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some had argued that beer yeast rarely survived longer than a decade.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The sugars are fermented with yeast to produce alcohol.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Put the fresh yeast and sugar in a medium bowl and beat until creamy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is because antibiotics can cause secondary infections by decreasing the population of important intestinal bacteria which keep yeast infections under control.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
This can be done by chewing a fragment of brewer 's yeast tablet.
MacIntyre, Anne M. E. Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome - How To Live With It (1989)
My house is the cake that refuses to rise, the dough without its yeast.
The Sun (2012)
The addition of brewer 's yeast and herbs might dampen their thirst.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Put the flour into a large bowl, then stir in the yeast and salt.
The Sun (2015)
Leave the yeast to ferment for 15 min.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Do you suffer from thrush, fungal infections or yeast infections?
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
Stir the yeast and sugar into the warm milk and leave to stand for 5 minutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You have done all the right things, so it could be due to a resistant strain of the yeast that causes thrush.
The Sun (2014)
If the yeast foods caused you to have an abdominal reaction, then you may find the weight loss came to a standstill this week.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
If using fresh yeast, cream it with a teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl and once it is liquid add to the dry ingredients.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Stir through the sugar, salt and dried yeast, then make a well in the middle.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast and salt.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
yeast
fungus
In other languages
yeast
British English: yeast /jiːst/ NOUN
Yeast is a kind of plant which is used to make bread rise, and in making alcoholic drinks such as beer.