stir

[ stur ]

/ stɜr /

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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.

Nearby words

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,

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ANTONYMS FOR stir

17 quiet.

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Related forms

stir·ra·ble, adjectivestir·less, adjectivestir·less·ly, adverbun·stir·ra·ble, adjective

un·stirred, adjectivewell-stirred, adjective

Synonym study

17. See ado.

Definition for stir (2 of 2)

stir

[ stur ]

/ stɜr /

noun Slang.

prison.

Origin of stir

1850–55; argot word of obscure origin; compare earlier argot start in same sense

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

Examples from the Web for stir

Remove from heat and stir in the walnuts, rum, powdered sugar, and salt until fully incorporated.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stir in the frozen peas and chicken, taste for seasonings, and pour the mixture into six (2-cup) ovenproof serving bowls.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Chicken Pot Pies|Ina Garten|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate and cranberries until the dough is well mixed.
Make These Barefoot Contessa Salty Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies|Ina Garten|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fleeing their homes, many Syrians left behind middle-class lives; most arrived with none of the mementos that stir memory.
Drawing on the Memories of Syrian Women|Masha Hamilton|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In 2012, Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon caused a stir when she told The New York Times that her lesbianism is a “choice.”
The Problematic Hunt for a ‘Gay Gene’|Samantha Allen|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If it becomes too stiff add a few drops of water, and stir it again.
The Century Cook Book|Mary Ronald
We tell the child to perform a certain action toward which his own feeling and thought have made no stir whatever.
Concerning Children|Charlotte Perkins Gilman
In all these three forms of action there is much to stir men to love of distinction.
Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons, Volume 2 (of 3)|Theodore Parker
But this morning the energy of life which for those two weeks had lain dormant in him, began to stir again.
Dodo's Daughter|E. F. Benson
The leap of something within her and the stir of her being toward him must be sinful.
The Game|Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for stir (1 of 2)

stir

/ (stɜː) /

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituentsshe stirred the porridge

to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbedhe 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 awakento 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 excitementhis publication caused a stir

a slight movement

NZ informal a noisy party

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 stir (2 of 2)

stir

/ (stɜː) /

noun

a slang word for prison in stir

Word Origin for stir

C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison

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 stir

stir

Old English styrian, from Proto-Germanic *sturjanan (cf. Middle Dutch stoeren, Dutch storen "to disturb," Old High German storan "to scatter, destroy," German stören "to disturb"), probably from the root of storm (q.v.). The noun sense of "commotion, disturbance, tumult" (late 14c., in phrase on steir) is probably from Old Norse styrr "disturbance, tumult" (see storm), from the same Proto-Germanic root; the sense of "movement, bustle" is probably from the English verb. Stir-fry (v.) is attested from 1959.

Idioms and Phrases with stir

stir

In addition to the idioms beginning with stir

stir up
stir up a hornets' nest

also see:

cause a commotion (stir)

stir

verb (used with object), stirred, stir·ring.

verb (used without object), stirred, stir·ring.

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of stir

Synonym study

Definition for stir (2 of 2)

stir

noun Slang.

Origin of stir

Examples from the Web for stir

British Dictionary definitions for stir (1 of 2)

stir

verb stirs, stirring or stirred

noun

Word Origin for stir

British Dictionary definitions for stir (2 of 2)

stir

noun

Word Origin for stir

Word Origin and History for stir

stir

Idioms and Phrases with stir

stir