Definition

A substance used in baking that helps dough rise by producing gas, making it light and fluffy.

Example

Bakers often use yeast as a leavening agent in bread recipes.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about what kind of leavening to use when baking bread?

Not really, I just grab whatever is on sale.

I find that using the right leavening agent makes a huge difference in texture.

That makes sense! I should probably pay more attention to that next time.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Leavening → It is formed from "leaven" (from Old English *lef*, meaning to raise or to ferment) and "-ing" (a suffix indicating the action or process). The word "leavening" refers to the process of causing dough to rise through fermentation.

Memory Tip

Think of the action of 'raising' ('leaven') dough through fermentation, which is what leavening does.

Visually Confused Words