stir1

[stur] /stɜr/
verb (used with object), stirred, stirring.
1.
to move one's hand or an implement continuously or repeatedly through (a liquid or other substance) in order to cool, mix, agitate, dissolve, etc., any or all of the component parts:
to stir one's coffee with a spoon.
2.
to set in tremulous, fluttering, or irregular motion:
A soft breeze stirred the leaves.
3.
to affect strongly; excite:
to stir pity; to stir one's heart.
4.
to incite, instigate, or prompt (usually followed by up):
to stir up a people to rebellion.
5.
to move briskly; bestir:
to stir oneself.
6.
to move, especially in a slight way:
He would not stir a finger to help them.
7.
to rouse from inactivity, quiet, contentment, indifference, etc. (usually followed by up):
to stir up his potential.
8.
to bring up for notice or discussion.
9.
to disturb; trouble.
verb (used without object), stirred, stirring.
10.
to move, especially slightly or lightly:
Not a leaf stirred.
11.
to move around, especially briskly; be active:
Everyone in the house was stirring.
12.
to become active, as from some rousing or quickening impulse.
13.
to be emotionally moved or strongly affected.
14.
to be in circulation, current, or afoot:
Is there any news stirring?
noun
15.
the act of stirring or moving.
16.
the sound made by stirring or moving slightly.
17.
a state or occasion of general excitement; commotion:
The news created a stir.
18.
a mental impulse, sensation, or feeling:
a stir of hope.
19.
a jog, poke, or thrust:
He gave the refuse a stir with his foot.
20.
movement, especially brisk and busy movement:
There was too much clamor and stir for her.
Origin
before 900; Middle English stiren (v.), Old English styrian; cognate with German stören; akin to Old Norse styrr disturbance; see storm
Related forms
stirrable, adjective
stirless, adjective
stirlessly, adverb
unstirrable, adjective
unstirred, adjective
well-stirred, adjective
Synonyms
1. disturb. 4. rouse, foment, arouse, provoke, stimulate, goad, spur. 17. fuss, pother, agitation, disorder, uproar. See ado. 20. bustle,
Antonyms
17. quiet.
British Dictionary definitions for stir up

stir up

verb
1.
(transitive, adverb) to set in motion; instigate: he stirred up trouble

stir1

/stɜː/
verb stirs, stirring, stirred
1.
to move an implement such as a spoon around in (a liquid) so as to mix up the constituents: she stirred the porridge
2.
to change or cause to change position; disturb or be disturbed: he stirred in his sleep
3.
(intransitive) often foll by from. to venture or depart (from one's usual or preferred place): he won't stir from the fireside
4.
(intransitive) to be active after a rest; be up and about
5.
(transitive) to excite or stimulate, esp emotionally
6.
to move (oneself) briskly or vigorously; exert (oneself)
7.
(transitive) to rouse or awaken: to stir someone from sleep, to stir memories
8.
(informal) when tr, foll by up. to cause or incite others to cause (trouble, arguments, etc)
9.
(informal) stir one's stumps, to move or become active
noun
10.
the act or an instance of stirring or the state of being stirred
11.
a strong reaction, esp of excitement: his publication caused a stir
12.
a slight movement
13.
(NZ, informal) a noisy party
See also stir up
Derived Forms
stirrable, adjective
Word Origin
Old English styrian; related to Middle High German stürn to poke, stir, Norwegian styrja to cause a commotion; see storm, sturgeon

stir2

/stɜː/
noun
1.
a slang word for prison in stir
Word Origin
C19: perhaps from Romany stariben prison
Word Origin and History for stir up

stir

v.

Old English styrian, from Proto-Germanic *sturjanan (cf. Middle Dutch stoeren, Dutch storen "to disturb," Old High German storan "to scatter, destroy," German stören "to disturb"), probably from the root of storm (q.v.). The noun sense of "commotion, disturbance, tumult" (late 14c., in phrase on steir) is probably from Old Norse styrr "disturbance, tumult" (see storm), from the same Proto-Germanic root; the sense of "movement, bustle" is probably from the English verb. Stir-fry (v.) is attested from 1959.

Slang definitions & phrases for stir up

stir

modifier

: with the stir haircuts

noun

A jail or prison: John went to stir (1851+)

[perhaps fr Romany steriben; the mid-1800s sturaban or sturbin, ''state prison,'' may be a transitional form]


Idioms and Phrases with stir up

stir up

.
Mix together the ingredients or parts, as in He stirred up some pancake batter, or Will you stir up the fire? [ Mid-1300s ]
.
Rouse to action, incite, provoke, as in He's always stirring up trouble among the campers, or If the strikers aren't careful they'll stir up a riot. [ First half of 1500s ]
Also see: stir up a hornets' nest

stir

also see:
cause a commotion (stir)