stir

n.

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