stir

¹

[ stur ]

verb (used with object)

, stirred, stir·ring.

1. 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.

   Synonyms: raise, exert, inflame

2. to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion:

   A soft breeze stirred the leaves.

3. to affect strongly; excite:

   to stir pity;

   to stir one's heart.

4. to incite, instigate, or provoke (usually followed by up ):

   to stir up a people to rebellion.

   Synonyms: spur, goad, stimulate, provoke, instigate, incite, arouse, foment, rouse

5. to move briskly; bestir:

   to stir oneself.

6. to move, especially in a slight way:

   He would not stir a finger to help them.

7. to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed by up ):

   to stir up his potential.

8. to bring up for notice or discussion.
9. Older Use. to disturb; trouble:

   A slow wave of remembrance stirred her peace.

verb (used without object)

, stirred, stir·ring.

1. to move, especially slightly or lightly:

   Not a leaf stirred.

2. to move around, especially briskly; be active:

   Everyone in the house was stirring.

3. to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.
4. to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.
5. to be in circulation, current, or afoot:

   Is there any news stirring?

noun

1. the act of stirring or moving.
2. the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.
3. a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion:

   The news created a stir.

   Synonyms: bustle, uproar, disorder, agitation, pother, fuss

   Antonyms: quiet

4. a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling:

   a stir of hope.

5. a jog, poke, or thrust:

   He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.

6. movement, especially brisk and busy movement:

   There was too much clamor and stir for her.

stir

²

[ stur ]

noun

, Slang.

1. prison.

stir

¹

/ stɜː /

verb

1. to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents

   she stirred the porridge

2. to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed

   he stirred in his sleep

3. introften foll byfrom to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place)

   he won't stir from the fireside

4. intr to be active after a rest; be up and about
5. tr to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally
6. to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)
7. tr to rouse or awaken

   to stir someone from sleep

   to stir memories

8. informal.
   whentr, foll by up to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)
9. stir one's stumps informal.
   to move or become active

noun

1. the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred
2. a strong reaction, esp of excitement

   his publication caused a stir

3. a slight movement
4. informal.
   a noisy party

Stir.

²

abbreviation for

1. Stirlingshire

stir

³

/ stɜː /

noun

1. a slang word for prison

   in stir

Derived Forms

• ˈstirrable, adjective

Other Words From

• stirra·ble adjective
• stirless adjective
• stirless·ly adverb
• un·stirra·ble adjective
• un·stirred adjective
• well-stirred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stir¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb stiren, Old English styrian; cognate with German stören “to disturb, interrupt”; akin to Old Norse styrr “disturbance, brawl”; storm

Origin of stir²

First rcorded in 1830–35; argot word of obscure origin; perhaps from Romani sturiben “prison,” staripen “imprison”; compare earlier argot start in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of stir¹

Old English styrian; related to Middle High German stürn to poke, stir, Norwegian styrja to cause a commotion; see storm , sturgeon

Origin of stir²

C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. stir the pot. pot ¹( def 26 ).

More idioms and phrases containing stir

• cause a commotion (stir)

Synonym Study

See ado.

Example Sentences

The team’s 2005 findings, published in Nature, caused a stir.

From Popular-Science

Google’s recent change in algorithms that choose which titles show up in SERPs has caused quite a stir in the SEO community.

From Search Engine Land

The overall flavor of your stir-fry is going to be dependent on how you marinated your meat and the other seasonings you are using.

From Washington Post

Add the 2 beaten eggs and stir-fry 1 minute until the eggs are just set but still a little runny.

From Washington Post

While those and other comments caused a stir in Jordan, King Abdullah could mostly ignore them as the musings of a disgruntled but insignificant political player.

From Vox

Remove from heat and stir in the walnuts, rum, powdered sugar, and salt until fully incorporated.

From The Daily Beast

Stir in the frozen peas and chicken, taste for seasonings, and pour the mixture into six (2-cup) ovenproof serving bowls.

From The Daily Beast

With a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate and cranberries until the dough is well mixed.

From The Daily Beast

Fleeing their homes, many Syrians left behind middle-class lives; most arrived with none of the mementos that stir memory.

From The 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.”

From The Daily Beast

The beauty, the mystery,—this fierce sunshine or something—stir——' She hesitated for a fraction of a second.

From Project Gutenberg

If it took years to do it, you shall never stir out of this house till it is done.

From Project Gutenberg

It was when the face and figure of a great tragedian began to haunt her imagination and stir her senses.

From Project Gutenberg

He wasn't the style of man that I'd care to stir up trouble with, judging from his size and the shape of his head.

From Project Gutenberg

Not until the servant had thrown open the door of the coach and deposited within the valise he carried, did Garnache stir.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affect
• arouse
• energize
• galvanize
• inflame
• inspire
• kindle
• prompt
• provoke
• raise
• rouse
• spark
• spur
• touch
• trigger
• whip up