barm n 1: a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey [syn: {yeast}, {barm}]
Barm \Barm\ (b[aum]rm), n. [OE. berme, AS. beorma; akin to Sw. b[aum]rma, G. b[aum]rme, and prob. L. fermentum. [root]93.] Foam rising upon beer, or other malt liquors, when fermenting, and used as leaven in making bread and in brewing; yeast. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Barm \Barm\, n. [OE. bearm, berm, barm, AS. bearm; akin to E. bear to support.] The lap or bosom. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]