Yeasts

n. general term for a type of unicellular fungi that multiply by budding (Medicine); leavening agent (used in bread and beer)

Yeasts are a growth form of eukaryotic microorganisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with approximately 1,500 species described. Most reproduce asexually by budding, although a few do by binary fission. Yeasts are unicellular, although some species with yeast forms may become multicellular through the formation of a string of connected budding cells known as pseudohyphae, or true hyphae as seen in most molds. Yeast size can vary greatly depending on the species, typically measuring 3–4 µm in diameter, although some yeasts can reach over 40 µm.
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Noun
1. a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey
(synonym) barm
(hypernym) leaven, leavening
(hyponym) yeast cake
2. any of various single-celled fungi that reproduce asexually by budding or division
(hypernym) fungus
(hyponym) baker's yeast, brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
(member-holonym) Endomycetales, order Endomycetales

single-celled ascomycete fungus that reproduces by budding or fission; produces enzymes that convert sugar to alcohol in a process called fermentation.