From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstirstir1 /stɜː $ stɜːr/ ●●● S3 W3 verb (stirred, stirring) 1 mix [transitive]MIX to move a liquid or substance around with a spoon or stick in order to mix it together Stir the paint to make sure it is smooth.stir something with something She stirred her coffee with a plastic spoon.stir something in/into something Stir a cup of cooked brown rice into the mixture.► see thesaurus at mix2 move slightly [intransitive, transitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to move slightly, or to make something move slightly The crowd began to stir as they waited for the band to start. A gentle breeze stirred the curtains.► see thesaurus at move3 leave a place [intransitive] to leave or move from a place He hadn’t stirred from his chair all morning.4 feelings a) [transitive]FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC to make someone have a strong feeling or reactionstir memories/emotions etc Looking at the photographs stirred childhood memories of the long hot summers. The poem succeeds in stirring the imagination. b) [intransitive]FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC if a feeling stirs in you, you begin to feel it Excitement stirred inside her.5 do something [transitive]CAUSE to make someone start doing somethingstir somebody to do something The incident stirred students to protest.6 → be stirring (it) → stir somebody/something ↔ up→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
stir• The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.• George stirred and reluctantly opened his eyes.• The crowd began to stir as the band walked on stage.• Add the Risotto rice and, stirring continuously, cook for 2-3 minutes.• Nothing stirs, either in the offices or at the crossroads.• The Fed continues to hold growth back arbitrarily, spooked by inflation that has shown no signs of stirring for years.• When the butter has melted, stir in the soy sauce and ginger.• Add the grated cheese to the sauce and stir it in.• Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.• Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until liquid evaporates, leaving a thick paste.• As I entered the room, she stirred slightly, then went back to sleep.• I watched him as he stirred sugar into his coffee.• Stir the paint to make sure that the colours are thoroughly mixed.• Could you stir the spaghetti sauce for me?• Roger momentarily stirred, turned in the bed and murmured something inaudible.• Add remaining ingredients and stir until the fondue thickens slightly.• Pregnancy in some women and men stirs up issues that previously appeared to be settled.stir something with something• She stirred her coffee with a spoon.stir somebody to do something• The incident has stirred students to protest.stirstir2 noun 1 [countable usually singular]FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC a feeling of excitement or annoyancecreate/cause a stir Plans for the motorway caused quite a stir among locals.2 [countable usually singular]MIX an act of stirring something Give that pan a stir, will you?3 [countable, uncountable] American English old-fashioned informal a prisonExamples from the Corpus
stir• As the happy couple took their places there was a stir and a rising babble behind them.• Giving it a brisk stir, she carried it carefully upstairs.• As far as she's concerned I've been drug-free since I come out of stir.• One day a lad called Stanley Wallace created a real stir.create/cause a stir• He also caused a stir with his purchase in 1896 and resale in segments of the Trafford Park estate in Manchester.• But two companies are creating a stir with their innovative ways of delivering that information.• Read in studio Voice over Kevin Maxwell has caused a stir by turning out for his village cricket team.• The nude paintings at the library have created quite a stir.• They are marvellously done, and they have caused a stir of approval in this country, while also raising doubts.• Later still, the place caused a stir by refusing service to then-Sen.• Then some of the Cowboys players caused a stir when they hired a limousine to take them to practice.• Derek, a somewhat burly intense salesman in his early thirties, created a stir wherever he went.Give ... stir• He was a strong presence at the Republican convention last summer, giving a stirring speech and darting from event to event.Origin stir1 Old English styrian stir2 1. (1300-1400) → STIR12. (1800-1900) Perhaps from Romany stariben, sturraben “prison” 