stir

stir1 [ stɜr ] verb **

▸ 1 mix liquid/food

▸ 2 make someone feel/think something

▸ 3 move slightly

▸ 4 move something burning around

▸ 5 say something to cause trouble

▸ 1 mix food/drink/substance

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive to mix a drink by moving it around with a spoon

a ) to mix a substance such as paint by moving it around with an object like a stick

b ) to move food around in a dish or pan using a spoon or other object:

Stir the sauce gently over a low heat.

stir well/thoroughly: Add the cream and stir thoroughly.

2. ) stir or stir up transitive to make someone feel upset or angry:

The latest economic figures have stirred fears of growing inflation.

stir anger/hatred/fears: This murder has stirred a lot of ill feeling in the community.

a ) stir or stir up transitive to make someone feel enthusiastic about something:

stir hopes/excitement/interest: Approaching elections have stirred hopes of reform.

b ) stir or stir up transitive to make someone think about something:

Seeing George again stirred old memories in me.

c ) intransitive if an emotion or thought stirs in you, you feel it or think about it:

A faint memory stirred in my mind.

A feeling of excitement stirred in her.

3. ) intransitive MAINLY LITERARY to move slightly after being still for a long time:

Early that morning the children begin stirring sleepily.

a ) intransitive if you do not stir from a place, you do not leave it or move away from it:

She didn't stir from her house for three days.

b ) intransitive or transitive to move or be moved slightly because of the wind:

The white curtains stirred gently in the summer breeze.

As he walked, a puff of wind stirred his hair.

4. ) transitive to move the burning pieces in a fire around

5. ) stir or stir it intransitive BRITISH INFORMAL to say things deliberately in order to cause trouble between people

stir yourself

to make yourself move or do something:

He knew he should really stir himself and get to work.

,stir `in phrasal verb transitive

to add something to a liquid or substance and mix it:

Cook the mixture for 3 minutes, then stir in the flour.

`stir into phrasal verb transitive

1. ) stir something into something to mix something into a liquid or substance:

Crush the garlic, then stir it into the soup.

2. ) stir someone into something to force someone to do something by making them feel that they should do it:

Officials were stirred into action by public complaints.

,stir `up phrasal verb transitive

1. ) same as STIR1 2:

stir up hatred/anger: He was accused of stirring up racial hatred.

2. ) same as STIR1 2B:

The sight of the school stirred up a lot of memories.

3. ) same as STIR1 2A:

The scandal certainly stirred up interest in the business.

4. ) to make water or dust move around:

Winds over 35 knots have stirred up the waves.

=> HORNET

stir

stir 2 [ stɜr ] noun singular

1. ) a situation in which a lot of people feel interested or angry:

cause/create a stir: His speech caused quite a stir at the conference.

a ) a slight feeling:

She felt a stir of excitement.

2. ) the movement you make with a spoon or other object when you move food or a liquid around:

I just need to give the soup a stir.