1. Deliberate and intentional triggering (of trouble or discord)
   "The fomentation of unrest by outside agitators led to protests";
   - instigation
    
2. Application of warm wet coverings to a part of the body to relieve pain and inflammation
   "The nurse applied fomentation to reduce swelling in the patient's knee"
    
3. A substance used as a warm moist medicinal compress or poultice
   "The nurse applied a fomentation to reduce the swelling"

Derived forms: fomentations

Type of: induction, initiation, intervention, treatment, trigger

Part of: compress

Encyclopedia: Fomentation