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churn

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The definition of a churn is a device for making butter.

(noun)

An example of a churn is what the Amish use to make butter.

To churn is defined as to stir or shake milk or cream with intense movements in the process of making butter, to stir up and agitate, or to produce something at a rapid and regular rate.

(verb)

An example of to churn is for a boat to create waves while moving quickly through the water .
An example of to churn is for one artist to create five large works of art per week.

See churn in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a container or contrivance in which milk or cream is beaten, stirred, or shaken to form butter
☆ the occurrence, ratio, or amount of turnover of investments, customers, commodities, etc.

Origin: ME chirne < OE cyrne; akin to cyrnel, kernel: with ref. to grainy appearance of churned cream

transitive verb

to stir, beat, or shake (milk or cream) in a churn
to make (butter) in a churn
to stir up vigorously
to produce (foam, etc.) by stirring vigorously
☆ to cause a rapid turnover of (a client's investments) so that the broker can claim commissions

Origin: ME chirnen < the n.

intransitive verb

to use a churn in making butter
to move or stir as if in a churn: many ideas churning in his brain

See churn in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A vessel or device in which cream or milk is agitated to separate the oily globules from the caseous and serous parts, used to make butter.

verb churned, churn·ing, churns

verb, transitive

a. To agitate or stir (milk or cream) in order to make butter.
b. To make by the agitation of milk or cream: churn butter.
To shake or agitate vigorously: wind churning up the piles of leaves. See Synonyms at agitate.
To buy and sell (a client's securities) frequently, especially in order to generate commissions.

verb, intransitive

To make butter by operating a device that agitates cream or milk.
To move with or produce great agitation: waves churning in the storm; so angry it made my stomach churn.

Phrasal Verb: churn out To produce in an abundant and automatic manner: churns out four novels a year.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English chirne

Origin: , from Old English cyrn, cyrin

Related Forms: