Meaning & use
Leaven
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To cause dough to rise by adding a fermenting agent such as yeast; figuratively, to lighten or enliven something by adding a moderating or uplifting element.
See it in a sentence
Bakers leaven the bread with a small amount of yeast before letting it rise overnight.
A bit of humor leavened the otherwise somber speech.
A note on using this word
The figurative sense of "leaven"—adding something that lifts or moderates a mood—comes directly from its literal baking meaning of making dough rise.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A substance, such as yeast, used to produce fermentation in dough or batter.
They added a spoonful of leaven to start the fermentation process.
Make it your own
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