leaven

[ lev-uhn ]
See synonyms for: leavenleavening on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a substance, as yeast or baking powder, that causes fermentation and expansion of dough or batter.

  2. fermented dough reserved for producing fermentation in a new batch of dough.

  1. an element that produces an altering or transforming influence.

verb (used with object)
  1. to add leaven to (dough or batter) and cause to rise.

  2. to permeate with an altering or transforming element.

Origin of leaven

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English levain, levein, leven, from Anglo-French levein, levain, Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin levāmen (unrecorded) “means of raising or lifting,” from Latin levāmen “alleviation, mitigation, relief,” derivative of levā(re) “to raise, lift up; relieve, reduce” + -men noun suffix

Words Nearby leaven

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use leaven in a sentence

  • Even Canada, with its leaven of Orangemen, was to be honoured with the speeches of an orator of second-rate powers.

    Hyacinth | George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for leaven

leaven

/ (ˈlɛvən) /


nounAlso: leavening
  1. any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise

  2. a piece of such a substance kept to ferment a new batch of dough

  1. an agency or influence that produces a gradual change

verb(tr)
  1. to cause fermentation in (dough or batter)

  2. to pervade, causing a gradual change, esp with some moderating or enlivening influence

Origin of leaven

1
C14: via Old French ultimately from Latin levāmen relief, (hence, raising agent, leaven), from levāre to raise

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012