Wort (?), n. [OE.
worte, wurte, AS. wyrte; akin to OD.
wort, G. würze, bierwürze, Icel. virtr, Sw. vört. See Wort an herb.]
An infusion of malt which is
unfermented, or is in the act of fermentation; the sweet infusion of malt, which ferments and forms beer; hence, any similar liquid in a state of incipient fermentation.
&fist; Wort consists essentially of a dilute solution of sugar, which by fermentation produces alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Wort (?), n. [OE. wort, wurt, AS.
wyrt herb, root; akin to OS.
wurt, G. wurz, Icel. jurt,
urt, Dan. urt, Sw. ört, Goth. waúrts a root, L. radix, Gr. &?; a root, &?; a branch, young shoot, &?; a branch, and E.
root, n. Cf. Licorice, Orchard, Radish,
Root, n.,
Whortleberry, Wort an infusion of malt.]
1. (Bot.) A plant of any
kind.
&fist; This word is
now chiefly used in combination, as in colewort, figwort, St. John's-wort, woundwort, etc.
2. pl. Cabbages.
Hear it pronounced