churn

[churn]

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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.

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

Related formschurn·a·ble, adjectivechurn·a·bil·i·ty, nounchurn·er, nounun·churn, verb (used with object)un·churned, adjectivewell-churned, adjective

Synonyms for churn

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR churn ON THESAURUS.COM

7. whip, toss, convulse.

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

Related Words for churn

swirl, bubble, simmer, boil, froth, convulse, foam, jolt, agitate, seethe, toss, ferment, moil

Examples from the Web for churn

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of churn

Have your churn very clean, and rinse and cool it with cold water.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Strain the cream from the crock into the churn, and put on the lid.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
It is best then to have the churn in a warm room, or near the fire.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
She had just finished churning, and the children saw their first churn.
Four Little Blossoms at Brookside Farm
Mabel C. Hawley
The stumble of thunder, the lash and churn of rain were companions.
Erik Dorn
Ben Hecht

British Dictionary definitions for churn

churn

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 Formschurner, 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

Word Origin and History for churn

Old English cyrin, from Proto-Germanic *kernjon (cf. Old Norse kirna, Swedish kärna, Danish kjerne, Dutch karn, Middle High German kern); probably akin to cyrnel "kernel" (see kernel) and describing the "grainy" appearance of churned cream.

mid-15c., chyrnen, from churn (n.). Extended senses are from late 17c. Intransitive sense is from 1735. Related: Churned; churning. To churn out, of writing, is from 1902.