churn

[ churn ]

/ tʃɜrn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: churn / churning 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.

churn rate (defs. 1, 2).

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR churn

8 whip, toss, convulse.

See synonyms for churn on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of churn

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 FROM churn

churn·a·ble, adjectivechurn·a·bil·i·ty

[chur-nuh-bil-i-tee], /ˌtʃɜr nəˈbɪl ɪ ti/, 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. 2023

How to use churn in a sentence

This part of the implement is known as Mantha or “the churner.”
The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. II (of 2)|W. Crooke
She wears seven rings on one hand and four on another, and rustles so when she walks she sounds like a churner out of order.
Mary Cary|Kate Langley Bosher
The last piece is the Upamantha or upper churner, which is a flat board with a socket.
The Popular Religion and Folk-Lore of Northern India, Vol. II (of 2)|W. Crooke

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 of churn

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

churn

OTHER WORDS FOR churn

Origin of churn

OTHER WORDS FROM churn

Words related to churn

How to use churn in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for churn

Derived forms of churn

Word Origin for churn