stir

[ stur ]

/ stɜr /

verb (used with object), stirred, stir·ring.

to move one's hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts: to stir one's coffee with a spoon.

to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion: A soft breeze stirred the leaves.

to affect strongly; excite: to stir pity; to stir one's heart.

to incite, instigate, or prompt (usually followed by up): to stir up a people to rebellion.

to move briskly; bestir: to stir oneself.

to move, especially in a slight way: He would not stir a finger to help them.

to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed by up): to stir up his potential.

to bring up for notice or discussion.

to disturb; trouble.

verb (used without object), stirred, stir·ring.

to move, especially slightly or lightly: Not a leaf stirred.

to move around, especially briskly; be active: Everyone in the house was stirring.

to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.

to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.

to be in circulation, current, or afoot: Is there any news stirring?

noun

the act of stirring or moving.

the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.

a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion: The news created a stir.

a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling: a stir of hope.

a jog, poke, or thrust: He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.

movement, especially brisk and busy movement: There was too much clamor and stir for her.

Origin of stir

before 900; Middle English stiren (v.), Old English styrian; cognate with German stören; akin to Old Norse styrr disturbance; see storm

SYNONYMS FOR stir

1 disturb.

4 rouse, foment, arouse, provoke, stimulate, goad, spur.

17 fuss, pother, agitation, disorder, uproar.

20 bustle,

SEE SYNONYMS FOR stir ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR stir

17 quiet.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR stir ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for stir

17. See ado.

OTHER WORDS FROM stir

stir·ra·ble, adjective stir·less, adjective stir·less·ly, adverb un·stir·ra·ble, adjective

un·stirred, adjective well-stirred, adjective

Words nearby stir

stippling, stipulate, stipulation, stipule, stipuliform, stir, stir up, stir up a hornets' nest, stir-crazy, stir-fried, stir-fry

Example sentences from the Web for stirred

The role of private investigators has stirred controversy in the investigation.

U.S. Spies Say They Tracked ‘Sony Hackers’ For Years |Shane Harris |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Rather, all of the manufactured antibodies are all stirred up but have nowhere to go.

When You Get the Flu This Winter, You Can Blame Anti-Vaxxers |Kent Sepkowitz |January 1, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
And there is no doubt, too, that its legacy will be marred by the controversy it stirred, both on and off screen.

'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble |Kevin Fallon |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Cosby would offer them a drink, and then wait until the effects of whatever undisclosed substance he had stirred in took hold.

The Bill Cosby Controversy Stages of Grief |Amy Zimmerman |November 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The timing of the violence against the students has particular resonance and has stirred public sentiment.

Anatomy of a Mexican Student Massacre |Jason McGahan |October 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Perhaps he is stirred at the thought of fighting for "England, Home, and Beauty."

Kitchener's Mob |James Norman Hall
Martha Phipps, sitting next to Galusha, stirred and uttered an impatient exclamation under her breath.

Galusha the Magnificent |Joseph C. Lincoln
Stirred at length by the instinct of revenge, they were about to pull on.

Afloat in the Forest |Mayne Reid
A light breeze sprang up and stirred the long, lush grass of the field which bordered the shadow of the trees.

A German Pompadour |Marie Hay
Always gentle to the gentle Ira, to-day his voice carried an added tenderness which stirred her to vague unrest and wistfulness.

The Game and the Candle |Eleanor M. Ingram

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (1 of 2)

stir ¹

/ (stɜː) /

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents she stirred the porridge

to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed he stirred in his sleep

(intr often foll by from) to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place) he won't stir from the fireside

(intr) to be active after a rest; be up and about

(tr) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally

to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)

(tr) to rouse or awaken to stir someone from sleep; to stir memories

informal (when tr, foll by up) to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)

stir one's stumps informal to move or become active

noun

the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred

a strong reaction, esp of excitement his publication caused a stir

a slight movement

NZ informal a noisy party

Derived forms of stir

stirrable, adjective

Word Origin for stir

Old English styrian; related to Middle High German stürn to poke, stir, Norwegian styrja to cause a commotion; see storm, sturgeon

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (2 of 2)

stir ²

/ (stɜː) /

noun

a slang word for prison in stir

Word Origin for stir

C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison

Idioms and Phrases with stirred

stir

In addition to the idioms beginning with stir

stir up
stir up a hornets' nest

also see:

cause a commotion (stir)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stir

verb (used with object), stirred, stir·ring.

verb (used without object), stirred, stir·ring.

noun

Origin of stir

SYNONYMS FOR stir

ANTONYMS FOR stir

synonym study for stir

OTHER WORDS FROM stir

Words nearby stir

Example sentences from the Web for stirred

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (1 of 2)

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

noun

Derived forms of stir

Word Origin for stir

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for stir

Idioms and Phrases with stirred

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

stir

verb (used with object), stirred, stir·ring.

verb (used without object), stirred, stir·ring.

noun

Origin of stir

SYNONYMS FOR stir

ANTONYMS FOR stir

synonym study for stir

OTHER WORDS FROM stir

Words nearby stir

Words related to stirred

Example sentences from the Web for stirred

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for stirred (1 of 2)

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

noun

Derived forms of stir

Word Origin for stir

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for stir

Idioms and Phrases with stirred

British Dictionary definitions for stirred (1 of 2)