zym

n. [ Gr. &unr_; leaven. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A ferment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) The morbific principle of a zymotic disease. Quain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Old Chem.) Pertaining to, or produced by, fermentation; -- formerly, by confusion, used to designate lactic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Zyme + -gen. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A mother substance, or antecedent, of an enzyme or chemical ferment; -- applied to such substances as, not being themselves actual ferments, may by internal changes give rise to a ferment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pancreas contains but little ready-made ferment, though there is present in it a body, zymogen, which gives birth to the ferment. Foster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Zyme + root of Gr. &unr_; to be born. ] (Biol.) One of a physiological group of globular bacteria which produces fermentations of diverse nature; -- distinguished from pathogene. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Biol.) (a) Pertaining to, or formed by, a zymogene. (b) Capable of producing a definite zymogen or ferment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Zymogenic organism (Biol.), a microorganism, such as the yeast plant of the Bacterium lactis, which sets up certain fermentative processes by which definite chemical products are formed; -- distinguished from a pathogenic organism. Cf. Micrococcus. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. zymologique. ] Of or pertaining to zymology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is skilled in zymology, or in the fermentation of liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Zyme + -logy: cf. F. zymologie. ] A treatise on the fermentation of liquors, or the doctrine of fermentation. [ Written also zumology. ] [ 1913 Webster ]