Definition of leaven

exculpate Definition: (verb) to free from blame or guilt. Petersons.com

Add Word of the Day to your personalized My Yahoo! page: About My Yahoo! and RSS »

Email this page to a friend

< leaved

leavening >

leav·en    (lvn) KEY  

NOUN:

1. An agent, such as yeast, that causes batter or dough to rise, especially by fermentation.
2. An element, influence, or agent that works subtly to lighten, enliven, or modify a whole.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
leav·ened , leav·en·ing , leav·ens

1. To add a rising agent to.
2. To cause to rise, especially by fermentation.
3. To pervade with a lightening, enlivening, or modifying influence.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French levain, from Vulgar Latin *levmen, from Latin levre, to raise; see leg^wh- in Indo-European roots

Visit our partner's site

	Provided by Houghton Mifflin eReference -- Download this interactive reference software to your desktop computer

Search Dictionary:

More on Yahoo! Education

• Online and On-Campus Degree Programs     MBAs  -  Technology Management  -  Education  -  Health  -  More  • College & Grad School - A Comprehensive Guide     College Search  -  Test Prep  -  Application Tips  -  Scholarship Search