sourdough

[ souuhr-doh, sou-er- ]

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.

adjective

1. leavened with sourdough:

   sourdough bread.

sourdough

/ ˈsaʊəˌdəʊ /

adjective

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

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sourdough¹

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

Example Sentences

I continue to develop my skills as a fairly new sourdough baker, and one of those is how to find success in winter.

From Washington Post

We’re forgetting how to socialize, staving off boredom with gardening and tie-dye, and forming deep emotional bonds with jars of sourdough starter.

From Quartz

The dough is made from sourdough and a wild yeast starter, and the pies are, of course, square.

From Eater

Here’s a sourdough pizza dough that waits on you — and not vice versaOnion Mushroom Tarte Tatin.

From Washington Post

You might not have completed your 30-day plank challenge or perfected your sourdough bread.

From Popular-Science

They are vinous, herbaceous, and reminiscent of sourdough yeast starter.

From The Daily Beast

Choosing one wine to go with candied yams and sourdough stuffing is challenging.

From The Daily Beast

The real old time veteran and sourdough is a model of neatness and order.

From Project Gutenberg

He had only one arm and one leg, the other members having been lost when his sourdough barrel blew up.

From Project Gutenberg

Having breakfasted heartily on sourdough flapjacks, warmed-over baked beans and coffee, they were ready for anything.

From Project Gutenberg

Takes its rise in the Sourdough Mountains and flows northward across the boundary of the Park.

From Project Gutenberg

A ridge jutting northwestward from Sourdough Mountains, in the northeastern part of the Park.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• expert
• pro
• vet