Saccharomyces \Sac`cha*ro*my"ces\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? sugar + ?, ?, a fungus.] (Biol.) A genus of budding fungi, the various species of which have the power, to a greater or less extent, or splitting up sugar into alcohol and carbonic acid. They are the active agents in producing fermentation of wine, beer, etc. {Saccharomyces cerevisiae} is the yeast of sedimentary beer. Also called {Torula}. [1913 Webster]
Torula \Tor"u*la\, n.; pl. {Torulae} [NL., dim. of L. torus a semicircular molding.] (Biol.) (a) A chain of special bacteria. (b) A genus of budding fungi. Same as {Saccharomyces}. Also used adjectively. [1913 Webster]