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Definition of kefir

kefir

/kəˈfɪər/
ke · fir

Plural:kefirs
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kefir Lexical Profile

kefir Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A tart, effervescent fermented milk drink originating in the Caucasus Mountains, traditionally made by inoculating milk with symbiotic clusters of yeast and bacteria.

Example

"For breakfast, she blended fresh strawberries and a handful of spinach into a glass of plain kefir."


2

The symbiotic culture of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, often resembling small, gelatinous cauliflower florets, used as a starter to produce fermented milk or water beverages (also known as kefir grains).

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for kefir

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Russian 'kefir' (кефир), which originated in the Northern Caucasus region. It is possibly derived from a North Caucasian language or related to the Turkic root 'keyif', meaning 'pleasure' or 'good feeling' (referring to the drink's effect).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kefir. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kefir
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