leaven
/ˈlevn/ (bre, ipa) · [lˈɛvən] /ˈlevn/ (ame, ipa) · [lˈɛvən] /ˈle-vən How to pronounce leaven (audio)/ (ame, mw)
leaven — 動詞
- 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
發酵；膨發
加酵母等讓麵團膨起
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.
Feng 天還沒亮就先用酸種讓晚餐小餐包的麵團發酵。
leaven + [bread] + with + [agent]
The cook leavened the pancake batter with baking powder for the school fair.
那位廚師為了學校園遊會，用泡打粉讓鬆餅麵糊膨發。
leaven + batter + with + baking powder
By noon, the dough was leavened and ready for the hot oven.
到了中午，麵團已經膨發，可以送進熱烤箱了。
Minh leavened the flatbread dough with wild yeast from a glass jar.
Minh 用玻璃罐裡的野生酵母，讓薄餅麵團發酵。
- 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
添趣；調和
加幽默等讓內容不那麼沉重
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.
Beatrix 用自己第一份工作的故事，替冗長的預算會議添趣。
leaven + meeting + with + story
Amani leavened the funeral speech with two funny memories from summer camp.
Amani 用兩段夏令營的趣事，替葬禮致詞調和氣氛。
leaven + speech + with + memories
The essay was leavened by short scenes from village life.
這篇文章靠著幾段村莊生活的小場景，讓整體添趣不少。
Christopher leavened his stern warning with a quiet smile at the end.
Christopher 在嚴厲警告的結尾加上一個安靜的笑容，讓語氣調和一些。
- 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 — 名詞
1. a living agent, especially yeast or sourdough starter, that makes dough rise.
酵種；酵母
讓麵團自然發起的活性材料
a living agent, especially yeast or sourdough starter, that makes dough rise.
Paloma fed the leaven each morning before mixing the village loaves.
Paloma 每天早上都先餵酵種，才開始拌村裡要賣的麵包。
feed the leaven
A spoon of fresh leaven gave the rye dough a slow rise overnight.
一匙新鮮酵母，讓黑麥麵團整夜慢慢發起來。
a spoon of fresh leaven
The baker kept her leaven in a warm jar beside the stove.
那位麵包師把她的酵種放在爐子旁邊的暖罐子裡。
Without enough leaven, the dough stayed flat on the metal tray.
酵種不夠的話，麵團放在金屬烤盤上也會一直扁扁的。
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
膨鬆劑
加熱產氣讓麵糊膨起的粉末
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.
Defne 在計時器開始前，先往蛋糕麵糊裡加了一點膨鬆劑。
add leaven to + batter
The recipe uses leaven instead of yeast for quick breakfast muffins.
這份食譜做快速早餐瑪芬時，用的是膨鬆劑，不是酵母。
use leaven instead of yeast
Old leaven in the cupboard left the biscuits dense and heavy.
櫥櫃裡那包放太久的膨鬆劑，讓餅乾烤得又硬又沉。
Vikram measured the leaven carefully so the pancakes would rise evenly.
Vikram 小心量好膨鬆劑，讓鬆餅能平均地膨起來。
- 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.
調劑；潤飾
讓沉重內容變輕快的元素
something that softens or brightens a serious situation.
Humour was the leaven that kept the long train ride from turning sour.
幽默就是那份調劑，才沒有讓漫長的火車旅程變得難熬。
the leaven that kept + situation + lighter
Her calm voice became a leaven in the angry room.
她平靜的聲音，成了那間充滿怒氣的房間裡的一點調劑。
a leaven in + [situation]
A few playground scenes add leaven to the dark film.
幾段操場上的場景，替這部黑暗的電影添上一點潤飾。
Joaquín's dry joke served as a leaven during the tense interview.
Joaquín 那句乾乾的玩笑，成了緊張面試中的一份調劑。
- 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.