LEAVEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does leaven mean? 

• LEAVEN (noun)
  The noun LEAVEN has 2 senses:

1. a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

2. an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something

  Familiarity information: LEAVEN used as a noun is rare.

• LEAVEN (verb)
  The verb LEAVEN has 1 sense:

1. cause to puff up with a leaven

  Familiarity information: LEAVEN used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEAVEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

leaven; leavening

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

leaven; leavening

Context example:

his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor

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

imponderable (a factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed)

• LEAVEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they leaven    ... he / she / it leavens   
Past simple: leavened   
Past participle: leavened   
-ing form: leavening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to puff up with a leaven

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

leaven; prove; raise

Context example:

unleavened bread

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)

 Context examples 

Yet in an instant she had changed again to her old expression of merriment leavened with mischief.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)