unleavened

/'ʌn'levnd/

Thân thiện

Unleavened bread is served on a flat wooden board.

Definition

1. Adjective: Describing a type of bread or dough that has been made without a leavening agent (such as yeast, baking powder, or baking soda) to cause it to rise. As a result, it is typically flat and dense.

Usage

The adjective "unleavened" is used almost exclusively to describe bread, crackers, or similar baked goods. It specifies the method of preparation and the resulting texture.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Matzo is a traditional unleavened bread eaten during Passover.
  • The recipe calls for unleavened dough, so do not add any yeast.
  • Flatbreads like chapati and tortillas are often unleavened.

Advanced Usage

• Figurative/Literary Use: In rare literary contexts, "unleavened" can describe something as being plain, unadulterated, or not lightened by any modifying element. This usage directly extends from the literal meaning of "not risen" or "not made light."
  • His speech was unleavened by humor, making it quite solemn. (Here, it means "not lightened" or "not made less serious.")

Variants and Related Words

• Leavened (adj.): The direct opposite, meaning made with a leavening agent to make it rise.
  • Most sandwich bread is leavened with yeast.
• Leaven (n./v.): The agent (like yeast) that causes dough to rise, or the act of adding such an agent.
  • Yeast is a common leaven. (n.)
  • A little laughter can leaven a difficult conversation. (v., figurative)

Synonyms

• Flat: (When describing bread texture) Not risen.
• Unraised: Not caused to rise.

Antonyms

• Leavened
• Raised
• Yeasted

Học thuật

Adjective

1. made without leavening
   • unleavened bread is often simply flour mixed with water

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unraised