Stir

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /stɜː/
• US IPA: /stÉš/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)

From Middle English stiren, from Old English styrian, from Proto-Germanic *sturjanÄ….

Full definition of stir

Verb

1. (transitive, dated) To change the place of in any manner; to move.
• unknown date, Sir William TempleMy foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir.
2. (transitive) To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by passing something through it; to agitate.She stirred the pudding with a spoon.
• unknown date, William ShakespeareMy mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred.
3. (transitive) To agitate the content of (a container) by passing something through it.Would you please stand here and stir this pot so that the chocolate doesn't burn?
4. (transitive) To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot.
• unknown date, Francis BaconStir not questions of jurisdiction.
5. (transitive) To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt; to excite.
• unknown date Chaucer''To stir men to devotion.
• unknown date, William ShakespeareAn Ate, stirring him to blood and strife.
• unknown date, John DrydenAnd for her sake some mutiny will stir.
• 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen RabbitThat night he was almost too happy to sleep, and so much love stirred in his little sawdust heart that it almost burst.
6. (intransitive) To move; to change one’s position.
• unknown date ByronI had not power to stir or strive, But felt that I was still alive.
7. (intransitive) To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy oneself.
• unknown date ByronAll are not fit with them to stir and toil.
• unknown date Charles Merivale''The friends of the unfortunate exile, far from resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring anxiously in his behalf.
8. (intransitive) To become the object of notice; to be on foot.
• unknown date, Isaac Watts''They fancy they have a right to talk freely upon everything that stirs or appears.
9. (intransitive, poetic) To rise, or be up and about, in the morning.
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 4, “Mid-Lent, and the Enemy grins,” remarked Selwyn as he started for church with Nina and the children. Austin, knee-deep in a dozen Sunday supplements, refused to stir ; …

Usage notes

In all transitive senses except the first, stir is often followed by up with an intensive effect; as, to stir up fire; to stir up sedition.

Synonyms

• (to move) incite; awaken; rouse; animate; stimulate; excite; provoke.

Derived terms

Noun

1. The act or result of stirring; agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
• unknown date, Sir John Denham.Why all these words, this clamor, and this stir?
• unknown date, John Locke.''Consider, after so much stir about genus and species, how few words we have yet settled definitions of.
2. Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
• unknown date, Sir John Davies.Being advertised of some stirs raised by his unnatural sons in England.
3. Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.

Noun

1. (slang) Jail; prison.He's going to spendin' maybe ten years in stir.

Anagrams

• ISTR
• TRIS