Leaven

ahd-5
  • noun. An agent, such as yeast, that causes batter or dough to rise, especially by fermentation.
  • noun. An element, influence, or agent that works subtly to lighten, enliven, or modify a whole.
  • transitive verb. To add a rising agent to.
  • transitive verb. To cause to rise, especially by fermentation.
  • transitive verb. To pervade with a lightening, enlivening, or modifying influence.
  • The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
  • noun. See leven.
  • To excite fermentation in; raise and make light, as dough or paste.
  • To imbue; work upon by some invisible or powerful influence.
  • To ripen; mature.
  • noun. A substance that produces or is designed to produce fermentation, especially in dough; specifically, a mass of fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of dough or paste, produces fermentation in it and renders it light.
  • noun. Something that resembles leaven in its effects, as some secret or impalpable influence working a general change, especially a change for the worse.
  • the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
  • noun. 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.
  • noun. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a corrupting) change in the mass.
  • transitive verb. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to ferment.
  • transitive verb. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
  • Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
  • noun. Any agent used to make dough rise or to have a similar effect on baked goods.
  • verb. To add a leavening agent.
  • verb. To cause to rise by fermentation.
  • verb. To temper an action or decision.
  • verb. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.
  • WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
  • noun. an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something
  • verb. cause to puff up with a leaven
  • noun. a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
  • Word Usage
    "We are leaven, in heaven. leaven-# a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid"
    cross-reference
    Hypernym
    Words that are more generic or abstract
    Rhyme
    Words with the same terminal sound
    Bevan  Devon  Evan  Heaven  devon  
    Same Context
    Words that are found in similar contexts
    impress  semblance  tinge  
    Synonym
    Words with the same meaning
    abate  adjust to  admixture  agent  alter  
    verb-form