leavening

[ lev-uh-ning ]
/ ˈlɛv ə nɪŋ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR leavening ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also called leavening agent. a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or batter; leaven.
the act or process of causing to ferment by leaven.
leaven(def 3).

Origin of leavening

First recorded in 1600–10; leaven + -ing1

Words nearby leavening

leave without a leg to stand on, leave word, leave-taking, leaved, leaven, leavening, leavenworth, leaves, leaves of grass, leaving, leavings

Definition for leavening (2 of 2)

leaven
[ lev-uh n ]
/ ˈlɛv ən /

noun

a substance, as yeast or baking powder, that causes fermentation and expansion of dough or batter.
fermented dough reserved for producing fermentation in a new batch of dough.
an element that produces an altering or transforming influence.

verb (used with object)

to add leaven to (dough or batter) and cause to rise.
to permeate with an altering or transforming element.

Origin of leaven

1300–50; Middle English levain < Anglo-French, Old French levain < Vulgar Latin *levāmen, equivalent to Latin levā(re) to raise + -men deverbal noun suffix (probably not continuous with Latin levāmen means of alleviating, solace)

Words related to leavening

agitator, motivation, incitement, reactionary, yeast, spur, goad, incentive, incendiary, impetus, impulse, leaven, ferment, incitation, stimulant, reactant, synergist, adjuvant, enzyme

Example sentences from the Web for leavening

British Dictionary definitions for leavening

leaven
/ (ˈlɛvən) /

noun Also: leavening

any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise
a piece of such a substance kept to ferment a new batch of dough
an agency or influence that produces a gradual change

verb (tr)

to cause fermentation in (dough or batter)
to pervade, causing a gradual change, esp with some moderating or enlivening influence

Word Origin for leaven

C14: via Old French ultimately from Latin levāmen relief, (hence, raising agent, leaven), from levāre to raise