leaven

leav·en  (lvn)

n.

1. An agent, such as yeast, that causes batter or dough to rise, especially by fermentation.

2. An element, influence, or agent that works subtly to lighten, enliven, or modify a whole.

tr.v. leav·ened, leav·en·ing, leav·ens

1. To add a rising agent to.

2. To cause to rise, especially by fermentation.

3. To pervade with a lightening, enlivening, or modifying influence.

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[Middle English, from Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin *levmen, from Latin levre, to raise; see leg^wh- in Indo-European roots.]

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leaven [ˈlɛv^ən]

n also leavening

1. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise

2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a piece of such a substance kept to ferment a new batch of dough

3. an agency or influence that produces a gradual change

vb (tr)

1. to cause fermentation in (dough or batter)

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

[via Old French ultimately from Latin levāmen relief, (hence, raising agent, leaven), from levāre to raise]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	leaven - a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid leavening substance - a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties; "shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man" 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
	2.	leaven - an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something; "his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor" leavening imponderable - a factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed; "human behavior depends on many imponderables"
Verb	1.	leaven - cause to puff up with a leaven; "unleavened bread" prove, raise lift, raise, elevate, get up, bring up - raise from a lower to a higher position; "Raise your hands"; "Lift a load"

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leaven

noun

1. yeast, ferment, leavening, barm The ingredients include wholemeal flour, wheat leven, water and salt.

2. catalyst, influence, inspiration The investment will be used as leaven to encourage businesses to do likewise.

verb

1. ferment, work, raise, lighten They used sour dough to leaven their bread.

2. stimulate, inspire, elevate, quicken, pervade, permeate, imbue, suffuse He found congenial officers who knew how to leaven war's rigours with riotous enjoyment.

Translations

leaven [ˈlevn]

A. N → levadura f (fig) → toque m

B. VT → leudar (fig) (= enliven) → aligerar

leaven

n (also leavening) → Treibmittel nt; (= fermenting dough) → Sauerteig m; (fig) → Auflockerung f; even his most serious speeches had a leaven of humour → auch seine ernstesten Reden waren mit Humor gewürzt

vt → (auf)gehen lassen, treiben; (fig) → auflockern

leaven [ˈlɛvn]

1. n → lievito

2. vt → far lievitare

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leaven [ˈlɛvn]

1. n → lievito

2. vt → far lievitare