Library / English Dictionary

LEAVEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something

Example:

his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor

Synonyms:

leaven; leavening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("leaven" is a kind of...):

imponderable (a factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

Synonyms:

leaven; leavening

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("leaven" is a kind of...):

substance (a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "leaven"):

baking powder (any of various powdered mixtures used in baking as a substitute for yeast)

sourdough (a leaven of dough in which fermentation is active; used by pioneers for making bread)

barm; yeast (a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey)

Derivation:

leaven (cause to puff up with a leaven)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to puff up with a leaven

Example:

unleavened bread

Synonyms:

leaven; prove; raise

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "leaven" is one way to...):

bring up; elevate; get up; lift; raise (raise from a lower to a higher position)

Cause:

prove; rise (increase in volume)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They leaven more bread

Derivation:

leaven (a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid)

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