leaven

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.
2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Anything that induces change, especially a corrupting or vitiating change.
3. (countable, uncountable) Chametz.

Verb

1. (transitive) To add a leavening agent.
2. (transitive) To cause to rise by fermentation.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To temper an action, decision, attitude, characteristic, etc.
4. (figuratively, transitive) To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
5. To rise or become larger; to prove.

Synonyms

yeast

ferment

leavening

raise

prove

sourdough

leavening agent

impact

influence

kick up

lift

malt

pervade

poolish

proof

rear

rising

stir up

up

🆙

upheave

uplift

bump up

self-rising flour

arouse

heft up

baking powder

barm

elevate

fillip

heft

ignite

Translations

levain

lievito

levadura

fermento

Sauerteig

lievitare

gist

levedura

Hefe

fermento

llevat

fermentar

zuurdeeg

leudar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɛv.ən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: levayn

In summary

From Middle English levayn, borrowed from Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin *levāmen, a noun based on Latin levō (“raise”).