1. Plural of leavener; substances or agents that cause dough or batter to rise by producing gas bubbles, such as yeast, baking powder, or baking soda.
Usage: Commonly used in baking and cooking contexts.
2. Things or people that lighten, enliven, or improve a situation or mood.
Usage: Figurative or metaphorical use.

Examples

• The baker added several leaveners to the dough to make it rise properly.
• Yeast and baking soda are common leaveners used in bread-making.
• Different leaveners produce different textures in cakes and cookies.
• The comedian's jokes served as leaveners during the tense meeting.
• Without proper leaveners, the cake would be dense and flat.