stir

1 verb

1 MIX (T) 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 sth in/into: When the sauce has cooled, add the grated cheese and stir it in.

2 FEELINGS

a) (T) to make someone have a strong feeling or reaction: He was stirred by the man's enthusiasm. | stir sb's memory/imagination etc: Her imagination was stirred by the scene. | stir memories/emotions etc: The news stirred memories of their own persecution.

b) (I) a feeling stirs in you, you begin to feel it: Excitement stirred inside her.

3 MOVE SLIGHTLY (I)

a) to move slightly or change your position because you are uncomfortable or just before you wake up: I never stirred all night long.

b) to move slightly: Something stirred in the long grass.

4 DO STH (T) to make someone feel they must do something: The incident stirred them to action. | stir yourself! especially BrE: He stirred himself to answer the door.

5 CAUSE TROUBLE (I) BrE informal to cause trouble between people by spreading false or secret information: Ben's always stirring!

6 MAKE STH MOVE (T) to make something move slightly: The wind stirred the fallen leaves

stir sth up phrasal verb (T)

1 to deliberately try to cause arguments or problems between people: The new leader was accused of stirring up trouble. | stir things up: Dave's just trying to stir things up because he's jealous.

2 to make something move around in the air or in water: The horse's hooves stirred up a lot of dust.

2 noun

1 (countable usually singular) an act of stirring something: give sth a stir: Give that pan a stir, will you?

2 (countable usually singular) a feeling of excitement or annoyance

(+ of): a stir of disapproval | create/cause a stir: Plans for the motorway caused quite a stir among local residents.