leaven (n.)

  1. a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid

    [ Syn: leavening ]

  2. an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something; his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor

    [ Syn: leavening ]

    leaven (v.)

  1. cause to puff up with a leaven; unleavened bread

    [ Syn: raise , prove ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.