Leaven

['lev(ə)n] or ['lɛvən]

Definition

(noun.) an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something; 'his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor'.

(noun.) a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid.

Inputed by Bennett--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce, fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders it light; yeast; barm.

(n.) Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass.

(v. t.) To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment.

(v. t.) To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.

Typist: Stephanie

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Yeast, ferment, barm, emptyings, fermenting substance.[2]. Pervading influence.

v. a. [1]. Produce or excite fermentation in.[2]. Imbue, infect, vitiate, taint.

Typist: Margery

Definition

n. the ferment which makes dough rise in a spongy form: anything that makes a general change whether good or bad.—v.t. to raise with leaven: to taint.—n. Leav′ening.—adj. Leav′enous containing leaven.

Editor: Vicky