stir
♦ stir /st'ɜːr/ (stirs stirring stirred)
1 [VERB] V n, V n into n, V n with in
If you stir a liquid or other substance, you move it around or mix it in a container using something such as a spoon.
Stir the soup for a few seconds...
There was Mrs Bellingham, stirring sugar into her tea...
You don't add the peanut butter until after you've stirred in the honey.
2 [VERB] V, V
If you stir, you move slightly, for example because you are uncomfortable or beginning to wake up. (WRITTEN)
Eileen shook him, and he started to stir...
The two women lay on their backs, not stirring.
= move
3 [VERB] usu with brd-neg, V from n
If you do not stir from a place, you do not move from it. (WRITTEN)
She had not stirred from the house that evening...
= move
4 [VERB] V, V n
If something stirs or if the wind stirs it, it moves gently in the wind. (WRITTEN)
Palm trees stir in the soft Pacific breeze...
Not a breath of fresh air stirred the long white curtains.
= move
5 [VERB] V in n, V n in n, V
If a particular memory, feeling, or mood stirs or is stirred in you, you begin to think about it or feel it. (WRITTEN)
Then a memory stirs in you and you start feeling anxious...
Amy remembered the anger he had stirred in her...
Deep inside the awareness was stirring that something was about to happen.
6 [N-SING]
If an event causes a stir, it causes great excitement, shock, or anger among people.
His film has caused a stir in America.
= commotion
7
see also stirringstir up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If something stirs up dust or stirs up mud in water, it causes it to rise up and move around.
They saw first a cloud of dust and then the car that was stirring it up.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you stir up a particular mood or situation, usually a bad one, you cause it.
As usual, Harriet is trying to stir up trouble...
I thought at first that Jay had been stirring things up.
1 [VERB] V n, V n into n, V n with in
If you stir a liquid or other substance, you move it around or mix it in a container using something such as a spoon.
Stir the soup for a few seconds...
There was Mrs Bellingham, stirring sugar into her tea...
You don't add the peanut butter until after you've stirred in the honey.
2 [VERB] V, V
If you stir, you move slightly, for example because you are uncomfortable or beginning to wake up. (WRITTEN)
Eileen shook him, and he started to stir...
The two women lay on their backs, not stirring.
= move
3 [VERB] usu with brd-neg, V from n
If you do not stir from a place, you do not move from it. (WRITTEN)
She had not stirred from the house that evening...
= move
4 [VERB] V, V n
If something stirs or if the wind stirs it, it moves gently in the wind. (WRITTEN)
Palm trees stir in the soft Pacific breeze...
Not a breath of fresh air stirred the long white curtains.
= move
5 [VERB] V in n, V n in n, V
If a particular memory, feeling, or mood stirs or is stirred in you, you begin to think about it or feel it. (WRITTEN)
Then a memory stirs in you and you start feeling anxious...
Amy remembered the anger he had stirred in her...
Deep inside the awareness was stirring that something was about to happen.
6 [N-SING]
If an event causes a stir, it causes great excitement, shock, or anger among people.
His film has caused a stir in America.
= commotion
7
see also stirringstir up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P
If something stirs up dust or stirs up mud in water, it causes it to rise up and move around.
They saw first a cloud of dust and then the car that was stirring it up.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you stir up a particular mood or situation, usually a bad one, you cause it.
As usual, Harriet is trying to stir up trouble...
I thought at first that Jay had been stirring things up.