stir Hear it!

stir¹ Definition

stir (stʉr)

transitive verb stirred, stir′·ring

  1. to move, shake, agitate, etc., esp. slightly
  2. to change the position of slightly; displace to stir a log
  3. to rouse from sleep, lethargy, indifference, etc.
  4. to put (oneself, one's limbs, etc.) into motion or activity, esp. briskly
    1. to move an implement, the hand, etc. through (a liquid or loose substance) with an agitated motion so that the particles change position with relation to one another
    2. to mix by or as by imparting such a motion to
  6. to excite the feelings of; move strongly
  7. to incite or provoke: often with up to stir up trouble
  8. to evoke, or call up to stir memories

Etymology: ME stirien < OE styrian: see storm

intransitive verb

  1. to move or change position, esp. only slightly not a leaf stirred
  2. to be up and about; be busy and active
  3. to be taking place, going on, happening, etc.
  4. to begin to show signs of activity; begin to come to life
  5. to impart an agitated motion to a liquid, mixture, etc. as with a spoon
  6. to be stirred a mixture that stirs easily

noun

  1. the act, an instance, or the sound of stirring
  2. movement; activity; agitation
  3. a state of excitement; commotion; tumult

stir¹ Related Forms
stir′·rer noun
stir² Definition

stir (stʉr)

noun

Slang a prison

Etymology: 19th-c. thieves' slang, prob. contr. < Romany steripen

stir Synonyms

stir

n.

agitation, tumult, bustle; see excitement.

stir Synonyms

stir

v.

  1. To excite

    rouse, arouse, waken, awaken, rally, excite, enliven, kindle, rekindle, provoke, inflame; see also excite 1.

  2. To mix by stirring

    move, beat, agitate; see mix 1.

stir (in this sense, often ?stir up) implies a bringing into action or activity by exciting or provoking the colonies were stirred to rebellion; arouse and rouse are often used interchangeably, but arouse usually implies merely a bringing into consciousness, as from a state of sleep she was aroused by the bell, and rouse suggests an additional incitement to vigorous action the rifle shot roused the sleeping guard; awaken and waken literally mean to arouse from sleep, but figuratively they suggest the stirring into activity of latent faculties, emotions, etc. it awakened, or wakened, her maternal feelings; rally implies a gathering of the component elements or individuals so as to stir to effective action to rally the troops, rallied her energy and attention

stir Usage Examples

Object

  • fry: Stir fry over a high heat for 2 mins.
  • caldron: Finally Persephone stirred the caldron of death and rebirth again and asked the two: " What do you bring to feed my caldron?
  • emotion: The manager uses a formal, rational method whilst the leader uses passion and stirs emotions.
  • imagination: How many old Studio photographs have you come across and when looked at, have stirred the imagination?

Adjective complement

  • crazy: I think you will be ok to let them out now they must be going stir crazy.

Particle object:

  • hatred: They must then go on to prove that the person intended to stir up hatred.
  • hornet: Click here for chapter 4 - ' Stirring up a hornet 's nest ' .
  • controversy: Jude D'Souza, current editor, asked whether the candidates thought features that stirred up controversy in the colleges were a good thing.
  • trouble: I´m not trying to stir up trouble, I´m trying to work with them again.
  • silt: Leaving Reach Lode, we have stirred up the silt a bit!
  • resentment: To stir up resentment among one section of the poor against another.

Present participle complement

  • weld: Friction stir welding is a solid state welding process, developed at TWI with tremendous potential for aerospace applications.

Preposition: in

  • flour: Stir in flour then slowly dilute with hot stock.
  • parsley: Stir in the parsley, serve in warm bowls, and sprinkle with the Parmesan.
  • puree: Then stir in the tomato puree and basil and season with salt and pepper.
  • spoonful: Mrs Stevenson moodily stirred in several extra spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee that was strong enough to knock out a bull elephant.
  • coriander: Stir in the coriander and add more salt and pepper if needed.
  • breadcrumb: Rub in the butter and then stir in the breadcrumbs.

Preposition: with

  • spoon: Now give the shredded paper a good stir with a wooden spoon.
  • whisk: Bring up to the boil, stirring constantly with a wire whisk, until the sauce blends and thickens.
stir Quotes

I charge you,O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Browse dictionary entries near stir

  1. ‹ stipule
  2. ‹ stipulation
  3. ‹ stipulate
  4. ‹ stipular
  5. ‹ stipple
  6. ‹ stipes
  7. ‹ stipendiary
  8. ‹ stipend
  9. ‹ stipel
  10. ‹ stipe
  1. stir-crazy ›
  2. stir-fry ›
  3. stir up trouble ›
  4. stirk ›
  5. Stirling ›
  6. Stirling engine ›
  7. stirps ›
  8. stirring ›
  9. stirrup ›
  10. stirrup bone ›