churn

[ churn ]

/ tʃɜrn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR churn ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

British. a large milk can.

an act of churning stocks by a stockbroker.

verb (used with object)

to agitate in order to make into butter: to churn cream.

to make (butter) by the agitation of cream.

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

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

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

verb (used without object)

to operate a churn.

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

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

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

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

Verb Phrases

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

Nearby words

churchyard beetle, churidars, churinga, churl, churlish, churn, churn drill, churn molding, churn out, churning, churr

Origin of churn

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

SYNONYMS FOR churn

7 whip, toss, convulse.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR churn ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

churn·a·ble, adjectivechurn·a·bil·i·ty, nounchurn·er, nounun·churn, verb (used with object)

un·churned, adjectivewell-churned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for churn

Academics these days operate under enormous pressure to churn out high volumes of these publications.
How Social Scientists, and the Rest of Us, Got Seduced By a Good Story|Megan McArdle|April 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The clock is relentless as they churn out dish after dish, being judged on creativity, taste, and presentation.
‘Chopped’: Why I’m Obsessed with Food Network’s Reality Competition Show|Jace Lacob|April 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
By the end of the film, you will remember Hushpuppy … and just might churn out a few tears on her behalf.
Oscar Nominations Shockers: Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathryn Bigelow & More|Marlow Stern|January 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
By the time I sat down to fill in the blanks, it was a grind to churn out what I already knew would happen.
Michelle Gagnon’s How I Write Interview: When I Was a Russian Supper-Club Dancer|Noah Charney|September 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST

This year, the U.S. Mint will churn out 4.3 billion of them, more than twice the annual output of all other coins combined.
Pennywise|David Frum|April 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I went to sleep and jerked the churn over on top of me, and consequently got a whipping.
Memories of Childhood's Slavery Days|Annie L. Burton
In summer try to churn early in the morning, as fewer flies are swarming then, and the butter can be made much firmer.
Housekeeping in Old Virginia|Marion Cabell Tyree
How welcome a sound was the churn of the engine as it came flying up the road and turned into the driveway!
Cloudy Jewel|Grace Livingston Hill
The landlady's tongue clattering sourly in the halls like a churn dasher dabbing in buttermilk.
The Trimmed Lamp|O. Henry
And if ever you lend your churn or your dishes to your neighbour, she'll be able to wish away your butter after that.
Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland, Second Series|Lady Gregory

British Dictionary definitions for churn

churn

/ (tʃɜːn) /

noun

British a large container for milk

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

any similar device

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

(sometimes foll by up) to move or cause to move with agitationideas churned in his head

(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

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

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

Derived Forms

churner, noun

Word Origin for churn

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

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