sourdough Syllabification: (sour·dough)Pronunciation: /ˈsou(ə)rˌdō/Translate sourdough | into French | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of sourdough noun 1leaven for making bread, consisting of fermenting dough, typically that left over from a previous batch. bread made using sourdough leaven. 2North American historical an experienced prospector in the western US or Canada; an old-timer. sourdough in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of sourdough in the British & World English dictionary