LEAVENING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does leavening mean? 

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

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

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

  Familiarity information: LEAVENING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LEAVENING (noun)

Sense 1

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 ("leavening" 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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

leaven; leavening

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

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

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

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)