leaven

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈlɛv.ən/ or [ˈlɛvn̩]
• IPA ^(key): /ˈlev.ən/ or [ˈlevn̩]

• Audio (US)

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Noun

Singular leaven

Plural leavens

1. A leaven is an agent that is used to make dough rise.
2. (figurative) A leaven is anything that causes something to change, especially a corrupting or vitiating change.

Verb

Plain form leaven

Third-person singular leavens

Past tense leavened

Past participle leavened

Present participle leavening

1. If you leaven something, you add leavening agent to it.

   Yeast is used to leaven bread, making it rise during baking.