Churn

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: chû(r)n, IPA: /tʃɜː(r)n/
• US IPA: /tʃɚn/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)n

Origin

From Old English Ä‹yrin. Cognate with West Frisian tsjerne, Dutch karn and Walloon serene.

Full definition of churn

Verb

1. (transitive) To agitate rapidly and repetitively, or to stir with a rowing or rocking motion; generally applies to liquids, notably cream.Now the cream is churned to make butter.
• AddisonChurned in his teeth, the foamy venom rose.
2. (transitive, figuratively) To produce excessive and sometimes undesirable or unproductive activity or motion.
• 2012, John Branch, Snow Fall : The Avalanche at Tunnel CreekThe slope of the terrain, shaped like a funnel, squeezed the growing swell of churning snow into a steep, twisting gorge.
3. (intransitive) To move rapidly and repetitively with a rocking motion; to tumble, mix or shake.I was so nervous my stomach was churning.

Derived terms

• churn out

Noun

1. A vessel used for churning.a butter churn
2. (telecommunications) The time when a consumer switches his/her service provider.
3. (telecommunications) The mass of people who are ready to switch carriers, expressed by the formula Customer Quits/Customer base.

Derived terms

• milk churn