churn

[ churn ]
See synonyms for: churnchurning on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a container or machine in which cream or milk is agitated to make butter.

  2. any of various containers or machines similar in shape or action to a butter churn, as a device for mixing beverages.

  1. British. a large milk can.

  2. an act of churning stocks by a stockbroker.

verb (used with object)
  1. to agitate in order to make into butter: to churn cream.

  2. to make (butter) by the agitation of cream.

  1. to shake or agitate with violence or continued motion: The storm churned the sea.

  2. to turn over and over in the mind: His brain slowly churned all the choices and possibilities.

  3. (of a stockbroker) to trade (a customer's securities) excessively in order to earn more in commissions.

verb (used without object)
  1. to operate a churn.

  2. to move or shake in agitation, as a liquid or any loose matter: The leaves churned along the ground.

  1. to be changing rapidly or be in a confused state: Her emotions churned as she viewed the horrific photos.

  2. to have a queasy feeling, as from anxiety or disgust: My insides were churning at the thought of being on stage.

  3. (of a stockbroker) to engage in the practice of churning.

Verb Phrases
  1. churn out, to produce mechanically, hurriedly, or routinely: He was hired to churn out verses for greeting cards.

Origin of churn

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun chirne, cherne, Old English cyrne cyr(i)n; cognate with Middle Low German kerne, Old Norse kjarni, kirna

Other words for churn

Other words from churn

  • churn·a·ble, adjective
  • churn·a·bil·i·ty [chur-nuh-bil-i-tee], /ˌtʃɜr nəˈbɪl ɪ ti/, noun
  • churn·er, noun
  • un·churn, verb (used with object)
  • un·churned, adjective
  • well-churned, adjective

Words Nearby churn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use churn in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for churn

churn

/ (tʃɜːn) /


noun
  1. British a large container for milk

  2. a vessel or machine in which cream or whole milk is vigorously agitated to produce butter

  1. any similar device

  2. the number of customers who switch from one supplier to another

verb
    • to stir or agitate (milk or cream) in order to make butter

    • to make (butter) by this process

  1. (sometimes foll by up) to move or cause to move with agitation: ideas churned in his head

  1. (of a bank, broker, etc) to encourage an investor or policyholder to change investments, endowment policies, etc, to increase commissions at the client's expense

  2. (of a government) to pay benefits to a wide category of people and claw it back by taxation from the well off

  3. to promote the turnover of existing subscribers leasing, and new subscribers joining, a cable television system or mobile phone company

Origin of churn

1
Old English ciern; related to Old Norse kjarni, Middle Low German kerne churn, German dialect Kern cream

Derived forms of churn

  • churner, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012