leaven
/ˈlevn/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɛvən] /ˈlevn/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɛvən] /ˈle-vən How to pronounce leaven (audio)/ (ame, mw)
leaven — verb
- leavenpresent simple I / you / we / they
- leavenshe / she / it
- leavenedpast simple
- leavening-ing form
1. to mix yeast, baking powder, or a similar agent into dough or batter so it swell
to mix yeast, baking powder, or a similar agent into dough or batter so it swells while it cooks.
Feng leavened the dinner rolls with sourdough starter before dawn.
leaven + [bread] + with + [agent]
The cook leavened the pancake batter with baking powder for the school fair.
leaven + batter + with + baking powder
By noon, the dough was leavened and ready for the hot oven.
Minh leavened the flatbread dough with wild yeast from a glass jar.
- leave unleavened
describes making bread or dough without any rising agent
文法句型
leaven + [bread/dough/batter]
leaven + [food] + with + [yeast/baking powder]
be leavened with + [agent]
用法筆記
Most often talks about bread, dough, or batter and often appears in the passive when describing finished food. Distinguish from sense 2, which is figurative and applies to writing, speeches, or moods.
常見錯誤
2. to make something serious or dull feel lighter by adding humour, warmth, or anot
to make something serious or dull feel lighter by adding humour, warmth, or another lively touch.
Beatrix leavened the long budget meeting with a story about her first job.
leaven + meeting + with + story
Amani leavened the funeral speech with two funny memories from summer camp.
leaven + speech + with + memories
The essay was leavened by short scenes from village life.
Christopher leavened his stern warning with a quiet smile at the end.
- weigh down
makes a speech, mood, or text feel heavier instead of lighter
文法句型
leaven + [speech/book/meeting] + with + [humour/story]
be leavened by + [joke/anecdote]
用法筆記
Usually takes a serious text, speech, or situation as its object and is commonly followed by 'with' plus the element that softens it. Distinguish from the noun sense 3, which names the lightening element itself.
常見錯誤
leaven — noun
1. a living agent, especially yeast or sourdough starter, that makes dough rise.
a living agent, especially yeast or sourdough starter, that makes dough rise.
Paloma fed the leaven each morning before mixing the village loaves.
feed the leaven
A spoon of fresh leaven gave the rye dough a slow rise overnight.
a spoon of fresh leaven
The baker kept her leaven in a warm jar beside the stove.
Without enough leaven, the dough stayed flat on the metal tray.
文法句型
feed + the leaven
a spoon of + leaven
keep + leaven + in + [jar/bowl]
用法筆記
Often refers to a living starter such as yeast or sourdough, especially in older or technical baking talk. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to a chemical powder rather than a living culture.
常見錯誤
2. a raising powder, for example baking powder, that gives off gas and helps batter
a raising powder, for example baking powder, that gives off gas and helps batter or dough swell in the oven.
Defne added a little leaven to the cake batter before the timer started.
add leaven to + batter
The recipe uses leaven instead of yeast for quick breakfast muffins.
use leaven instead of yeast
Old leaven in the cupboard left the biscuits dense and heavy.
Vikram measured the leaven carefully so the pancakes would rise evenly.
- baking powder
the standard modern name for the same kind of raising powder
- raising agent
broader label that also covers baking soda and similar products
文法句型
add + leaven + to + batter
use + leaven + instead of + yeast
measure + the leaven carefully
用法筆記
This sense usually points to baking powder, baking soda, or a similar quick-acting powder in cakes and other fast breads. Unlike sense 1, it does not describe a living starter.
常見錯誤
3. something that softens or brightens a serious situation.
something that softens or brightens a serious situation.
Humour was the leaven that kept the long train ride from turning sour.
the leaven that kept + situation + lighter
Her calm voice became a leaven in the angry room.
a leaven in + [situation]
A few playground scenes add leaven to the dark film.
Joaquín's dry joke served as a leaven during the tense interview.
- bright spot
more informal and usually points to one cheerful part of a hard situation
- relief
stresses the easing effect more than the added liveliness
- touch
lighter and less formal when naming a small added detail
- burden
adds weight or strain instead of easing it
文法句型
be + a leaven + in + [situation]
add leaven to + [text/film/talk]
serve as + a leaven
用法筆記
This figurative noun names the element that makes a heavy mood, talk, or work easier to take. Distinguish from verb sense 2, which describes the act of adding that element.