Kephirs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A fermented milk drink made with kefir grains that contains a mixture of bacteria and yeasts; cultures used to ferment milk resulting in a probiotic beverage; a sour, cultured dairy product derived from fermenting milk with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast
2. A cultured milk beverage produced by fermenting milk with kefir grains containing beneficial microbes; the grains themselves used to impart fermentation onto milk creating a healthful drink; a dairy product noted for its tangy taste and probiotic qualities obtained through microbial fermentation
3. A tangy, fermented milk drink created by introducing kefir grains which hold bacteria and yeasts; the live culture colonies responsible for fermenting milk into a rich, probiotic beverage; a traditional dairy refreshment produced by microbial fermentation known for its beneficial effects on digestion

Etymology: "Kephirs" is the plural of "kefir," the fermented milk drink. The base word came into English from Russian, where "кефир" was borrowed from a North Caucasian language, likely related to the Karachay-Balkar "kepir," and the drink was known in the Caucasus long before it reached Western tables.

Synonyms: kefirs, fermented milk drinks, probiotic drinks