sourdough

American  

[souuhr-doh, sou-er-] / ˈsaʊərˌdoʊ, ˈsaʊ ər- /

noun

1. fermented dough retained from one baking and used as leaven, rather than fresh yeast, to start the next.

2. bread leavened with this fermented dough.

   Pick up a loaf of sourdough and a baguette, too.

3. a prospector or pioneer, especially in Alaska or Canada.

4. any longtime resident, especially in Alaska or Canada.

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adjective

1. leavened with sourdough.

   sourdough bread.

sourdough British  

/ ˈsaʊəˌdəʊ /

adjective

1. dialect (of bread) made with fermented dough used as a leaven

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noun

1. (in Western US, Canada, and Alaska) an old-time prospector or pioneer

Etymology

Origin of sourdough

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English: literally, “leaven, leavened bread” ; sour, dough

Example Sentences

Research over the years has uncovered more than 60 types of bacteria and over 80 kinds of yeast in sourdoughs from different regions of the world.

From Science Daily

“One sourdough heel” is a different proposition than “bread.”

From Salon

All we have to do is pick a goal—increase the sale of sourdough by 10%, transition the world to vegetarianism—and Should Futurists will confidently tell us what we should do to achieve it.

From The Wall Street Journal

A few combinations I love: a loaf of homemade sourdough alongside a beautiful farmers’ market marmalade.

From Salon

The pandemic was great for introverts, sourdough bread enthusiasts, and retail stocks.

From Barron's

Related Words

• cake
• crepe
• waffle