leavening

Other forms: leavenings

Definitions of leavening

1. noun

   a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
   synonyms: leaven

   types:

   baking powder

   any of various powdered mixtures used in baking as a substitute for yeast

   sourdough

   a leaven of dough in which fermentation is active; used by pioneers for making bread

   barm, yeast

   a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey

   yeast cake

   small cake of compressed moist yeast

   brewer's yeast

   yeast used in fermenting beer

   mother

   a stringy slimy substance consisting of yeast cells and bacteria; forms during fermentation and is added to cider or wine to produce vinegar

   type of:

   substance

   a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties
2. noun

   an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something
   “his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor”

   synonyms: leaven

   type of:

   imponderable

   a factor whose effects cannot be accurately assessed