stir

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To disturb the relative position of the particles (of a liquid or similar) by passing an object through it.
2. (transitive) To disturb the content of (a container) by passing an object through it.
3. (transitive) To emotionally affect; to touch, to move.
4. (transitive) To incite to action.
5. (transitive) To bring into debate; to agitate.
6. (obsolete, transitive) To disturb, to disrupt.
7. (dated, transitive) To change the place of in any manner; to move.
8. (intransitive) To begin to move, especially gently, from a still or unmoving position.
9. (intransitive) Of a feeling or emotion: to rise, begin to be felt.
10. (intransitive) To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy oneself.
11. (intransitive) To rise from sleep or unconsciousness.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The act or result of stirring (moving around the particles of a liquid etc.)
2. (countable, uncountable) agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
3. (countable, uncountable) Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
4. (countable, uncountable) Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.

Noun

Jail; prison.

Synonyms

move

mix

agitate

stir up

shake

🫨

excite

arouse

stimulate

budge

rouse

blend

incite

shift

disturb

commotion

bustle

abet

urge

instigate

impel

prod

prompt

spur

trigger

spur on

activity

encourage

zest

provocate

spirit

agitation

row

gusto

provoke

uproar

shake up

fuss

affect

rock

🪨

excitement

tumult

turmoil

churn

turn

flutter

racket

touch

disturbance

trouble

poke

Translations

remuer

rühren

mexer

agiter

mélanger

remover

mescolare

agitar

revolver

bewegen

prikkelen

bewegen

aanwakkeren

incitar

herausfordern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/stɜː/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: stiren

Inherited from Old English: styrian

Cognate with Old Norse: styrr

Cognate with German: stören

Cognate with Dutch: storen

In summary

From Middle English stiren, sturien, steren, from Old English styrian (“to be in motion, move, agitate, stir, disturb, trouble”), from Proto-Germanic *sturiz (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), related to Proto-West Germanic *staurijan (“to destroy, disturb”). Cognate with Old Norse styrr (“turmoil, noise, confusion”), German stören (“to disturb”), Dutch storen (“to disturb”).