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 unstirred

We were quiet, like everything around us, unstirred by a breath of wind.

The Choice of Life |Georgette Leblanc
Arcadia represented the realm of art and song, unstirred by warfare or unworthy passions.

Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature |John Addington Symonds
The sun was now no more than a diffused gray glow, the sea like unstirred molten silver.

The Happy End |Joseph Hergesheimer
But my Sisters are frank women; they laughed at my excitement—themselves not unstirred.

A Diary Without Dates |Enid Bagnold

After that grinding, terrible cry, the stillness of the night was unstirred.

Southern Lights and Shadows |Various

British Dictionary definitions for unstirred (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 unstirred (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 unstirred

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 unstirred

British Dictionary definitions for unstirred (1 of 2)

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

noun

Derived forms of stir

Word Origin for stir

British Dictionary definitions for unstirred (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for stir

Idioms and Phrases with unstirred

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 unstirred

Example sentences from the Web for unstirred

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

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

noun

Derived forms of stir

Word Origin for stir

British Dictionary definitions for unstirred (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for stir

Idioms and Phrases with unstirred

British Dictionary definitions for unstirred (1 of 2)