stir

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: splashbustlehustleflurryadofussshiftbudgeagitatestimulateexciteshake

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event“he made a great splash and then disappeared”Synonyms: splash
  2. emotional agitation and excitement
  3. a rapid active commotionSynonyms: bustlehustleflurryadofuss

Verb (8)

  1. move an implement through“stir the soup”“stir my drink”“stir the soil”
  2. move very slightly“He shifted in his seat”Synonyms: shiftbudgeagitate
  3. stir feelings in“stimulate my appetite”“excite the audience”“stir emotions”Synonyms: stimulateexcite
  4. stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of“These stories shook the community”“the civil war shook the country”Synonyms: stimulateshakeshake upexcite
  5. affect emotionally“A stirring movie”“I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy”Synonyms: touch
  6. summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic“raise the specter of unemployment”“he conjured wild birds in the air”“call down the spirits from the mountain”Synonyms: raiseconjureconjure upinvokeevokecall downarousebring upput forwardcall forth
  7. to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"Synonyms: arouse
  8. mix or add by stirring“Stir nuts into the dough”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Stir \Stir\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stirred; p. pr. & vb. n. Stirring.] [OE. stiren, steren, sturen, AS. styrian; probably akin to D. storen to disturb, G. st["o]ren, OHG. st[=o]ren to scatter, destroy. [root]166.]

1.To change the place of in any manner; to move. [1913 Webster]

My foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir.— Sir W. Temple.[1913 Webster]

2.To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by passing something through it; to agitate; as, to stir a pudding with a spoon. [1913 Webster]

My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

3.To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot. [1913 Webster]

Stir not questions of jurisdiction.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

4.To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt; to excite. "To stir men to devotion." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
And for her sake some mutiny will stir.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]

Note: In all senses except the first, stir is often followed by up with an intensive effect; as, to stir up fire; to stir up sedition. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To move; incite; awaken; rouse; animate; stimulate; excite; provoke. [1913 Webster]

Stir \Stir\, v. i.

1.To move; to change one's position. [1913 Webster]

I had not power to stir or strive, But felt that I was still alive.— Byron.[1913 Webster]

2.To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy one's self. [1913 Webster]

All are not fit with them to stir and toil.— Byron.[1913 Webster]
The friends of the unfortunate exile, far from resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring anxiously in his behalf.— Merivale.[1913 Webster]

3.To become the object of notice; to be on foot. [1913 Webster]

They fancy they have a right to talk freely upon everything that stirs or appears.— I. Watts.[1913 Webster]

4.To rise, or be up, in the morning. [Colloq.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Stir \Stir\, n.

1.The act or result of stirring; agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements. [1913 Webster]

Why all these words, this clamor, and this stir?— Denham.[1913 Webster]
Consider, after so much stir about genus and species, how few words we have yet settled definitions of.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

2.Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar. [1913 Webster]

Being advertised of some stirs raised by his unnatural sons in England.— Sir J. Davies.[1913 Webster]

3.Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions. [1913 Webster]

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