- stir
- stirstir1 [stʉr]vt.stirred, stirring [ME stirien < OE styrian: see STORM]1. to move, shake, agitate, etc., esp. slightly2. to change the position of slightly; displace [to stir a log]3. to rouse from sleep, lethargy, indifference, etc.4. to put (oneself, one's limbs, etc.) into motion or activity, esp. briskly5.a) to move an implement, the hand, etc. through (a liquid or loose substance) with an agitated motion so that the particles change position with relation to one anotherb) to mix by or as by imparting such a motion to6. to excite the feelings of; move strongly7. to incite or provoke: often with up [to stir up trouble]8. to evoke, or call up [to stir memories]vi.1. to move or change position, esp. only slightly [not a leaf stirred]2. to be up and about; be busy and active3. to be taking place, going on, happening, etc.4. to begin to show signs of activity; begin to come to life5. to impart an agitated motion to a liquid, mixture, etc. as with a spoon6. to be stirred [a mixture that stirs easily]n.1. the act, an instance, or the sound of stirring2. movement; activity; agitation3. a state of excitement; commotion; tumultstirrern.SYN.- STIR1 (in this sense, often stir up) implies a bringing into action or activity by exciting or provoking [the colonies were stirred to rebellion ]; AROUSE and ROUSE1 are often used interchangeably, but AROUSE usually implies merely a bringing into consciousness, as from a state of sleep [she was aroused by the bell ], and ROUSE1 suggests an additional incitement to vigorous action [the rifle shot roused the sleeping guard ]; AWAKEN and WAKEN literally mean to arouse from sleep, but figuratively they suggest the elicitation of latent faculties, emotions, etc. [it awakened, or wakened, her maternal feelings ]; RALLY1 implies a gathering of the component elements or individuals so as to stir to effective action [to rally troops, one's energy, etc. ]stir2 [stʉr]n.[19th-c. thieves' slang, prob. contr. < Romany steripen]Slang a prison
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.