leaven
['levn]
n. 酵母, 促使素

vt. 使酵,

[医] 酵剂,



leaven
[ noun ]

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

<noun.substance>

2. an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify something

<noun.cognition>
his sermons benefited from a leavening of humor

[ verb ]

1. cause to puff up with a leaven

<verb.motion> prove raise
unleavened bread

Leaven \Leav"en\, n. [OE. levain, levein, F. levain, L. levamen
alleviation, mitigation; but taken in the sense of, a
raising, that which raises, fr. levare to raise. See {Lever},
n.]
1. Any substance that produces, or is designed to produce,
fermentation, as in dough or liquids; esp., a portion of
fermenting dough, which, mixed with a larger quantity of
dough, produces a general change in the mass, and renders
it light; yeast; barm.

2. Anything which makes a general assimilating (especially a
corrupting) change in the mass.

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy. --Luke xii. 1.


Leaven \Leav"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Leavened}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Leavening}.]
1. To make light by the action of leaven; to cause to
ferment.

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. --1 Cor.
v. 6.

2. To imbue; to infect; to vitiate.

With these and the like deceivable doctrines, he
leavens also his prayer. --Milton.