Link Centre Dictionary

leaven

lea·ven

US/ˈlɛv.ən/ uncommon
noun (2) verb (1)

noun

1.

a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

Synonyms
2.

an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something

  • “his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor”
Synonyms

verb

1.

cause to puff up with a leaven

  • “unleavened bread”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English levayn, borrowed from Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin *levāmen, a noun based on Latin levō (“raise”).

Phrases

  • natural leaven
  • of the same leaven

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.