stir
stir Lexical Profile
stir Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To move a spoon or other implement around in a liquid or other substance in order to mix it thoroughly.
"Please stir the sauce continuously so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan."
To move or cause to move slightly, or to begin to be active or awake after a period of rest.
"A gentle breeze began to stir the autumn leaves across the courtyard."
To arouse or evoke a strong feeling, memory, or emotion in someone.
"The orchestral performance managed to stir a deep sense of nostalgia in the audience."
• noun
An act of mixing or moving a liquid or other substance around with a spoon or similar implement.
"She gave the simmering soup a quick stir before turning off the stove."
A commotion, disturbance, or state of widespread excitement and interest among people.
"The unexpected announcement of the merger caused quite a stir across the financial sector."
A slight physical movement or initial sign of activity.
"There was not a stir of wind in the trees on that humid summer afternoon."
A prison or state of confinement (used in informal or slang contexts).
"The novel's protagonist spent five years in stir before clearing his name."
• Rhymes for stir
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The primary senses derive from Old English 'styrian' (to move, rouse, or agitate), of West Germanic origin. The informal noun sense meaning 'prison' developed independently in the mid-19th century, likely from the Romani word 'stariben' (prison).