English Dictionary

LEAVEN

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

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 liquidplay

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

  Familiarity information: LEAVEN used as a noun is rare.


LEAVEN (verb)
  The verb LEAVEN has 1 sense:

1. cause to puff up with a leavenplay

  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)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they leaven  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it leavens  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: leavened  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: leavened  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: leavening  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


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)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"It's easy to be wise after the event." (English proverb)

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"Think of the going out before you enter." (Arabic proverb)

"Where there is smoke, there is fire too." (Croatian proverb)



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