Definition

1. Verb:

   • To mix a liquid or substance by moving a spoon or other implement around in it: The primary meaning involves moving something in a circular motion to combine ingredients.
   • To cause to move or change position slightly: To make a small, often gentle, movement.
   • To arouse or excite a feeling, thought, or reaction: To provoke an emotional or mental response.
   • To begin to move or become active: To start moving after being still or inactive.

2. Noun:

   • A state of commotion, excitement, or public attention: A situation causing a flurry of activity or interest.
   • An act of stirring: The action of mixing with a circular motion.

Usage

• Verb (Transitive - to mix):

  • Stir the sauce gently to prevent it from burning.
  • She stirred sugar into her coffee.

• Verb (Intransitive - to move slightly):

  • He heard a noise and stirred in his sleep.
  • The leaves stirred in the breeze.

• Verb (Transitive - to arouse feelings):

  • The speech stirred feelings of patriotism in the crowd.
  • The old photograph stirred memories of her childhood.

• Noun (commotion):

  • The news of the scandal caused quite a stir.
  • His sudden resignation created a stir in the office.

Advanced Usage

• "to stir the pot": To cause trouble or controversy, often deliberately.

  • The journalist liked to stir the pot with provocative articles.

• "to stir someone's blood": To excite or arouse strong emotion or passion in someone.

  • The martial music stirred the soldiers' blood.

• "to stir one's stumps" (idiomatic, informal): To start moving or to hurry up.

  • You'd better stir your stumps if you want to catch the bus.

Variants and Related Words

• Stirring (Adjective): Causing excitement or strong emotion; rousing.
  • The leader gave a stirring speech.
• Stirrer (Noun): A person who habitually causes trouble; also, an implement for stirring.
  • He's known as a troublemaker and a stirrer.
  • Use a wooden stirrer for the paint.

Synonyms

• Verb (mix): Agitate, blend, mix.
• Verb (arouse): Excite, provoke, stimulate, awaken.
• Noun (commotion): Commotion, fuss, disturbance, uproar.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Stir up: To cause or provoke (a strong feeling or trouble).
  • The politician's comments stirred up anger among voters.
  • Don't stir up old arguments.

Related Idioms

• Not stir a finger: To make no effort to help.
  • He didn't stir a finger to clean the house.
• Stir crazy (informal): Restless or anxious from being confined or bored.
  • After a week of rain, the kids were getting stir crazy indoors.

Noun

1. a rapid active commotion
2. emotional agitation and excitement
3. a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
   • he made a great splash and then disappeared

Verb

1. mix or add by stirring
   • Stir nuts into the dough
2. to begin moving, "As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir"
3. 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
4. affect emotionally
   • A stirring movie
   • I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy
5. stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of
   • These stories shook the community
   • the civil war shook the country
6. stir feelings in
   • stimulate my appetite
   • excite the audience
   • stir emotions
7. move very slightly
   • He shifted in his seat
8. move an implement through
   • stir the soup
   • stir my drink
   • stir the soil