leaven

Meanings

• noun

  A substance, typically containing yeast or a baking powder, added to dough or batter to cause it to rise.

  - "He added some leaven to the dough before baking the bread."
  - "The cake didn't rise properly because the leaven was old."

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Pronunciation

1. /ˈlɛv.ən/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=519892"

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Synonyms

leavening agent , raising agent

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with leaven
heaven , grieves , rives , dives

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Homophones

Words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling,

1. leave (en) : to go away or depart
   

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Variants

List of all variants of leaven that leads to same result
leaven , leavens , leavened , leavening

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English 'leofan', meaning 'beloved'. In the context of baking, it likely comes from the Middle English word 'levene', which referred to the 'poolish' or sourdough starter used for leavened bread.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Leaven is also known as 'quenelle' or 'ferment' in French cooking.

2. The term 'leaven' is derived from the Old English word 'leofan', which means 'beloved'.

3. In ancient Rome, bread was leavened with a mixture of water and barley malt called 'maltus'.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. yeast: A single-celled microorganism used to ferment various food products, including bread and beer.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Leaven has played a significant role in various cultures throughout history. In ancient Egypt, leavened bread was used in religious ceremonies. In Jewish tradition, matzo is unleavened bread consumed during Passover to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt. In Christianity, the use of leavened bread during communion represents the resurrection of Jesus.

How to Memorize "leaven"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a baker adding a lump of leaven to a bowl of dough.
   - Visualize the dough rising as the leaven ferments and releases gases.

2. associate
   

   - Associate leaven with the rising of bread.
   - Remember that leaven makes dough rise.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Leaven = Levity + Elevate + Venus (the Roman goddess of love and fertility, representing the growth process in baking).

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