stir1 stər/ verb verb: stir; 3rd person present: stirs; past tense: stirred; past participle: stirred; gerund or present participle: stirring 1. move a spoon or other implement around in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly. "stir the batter until it is just combined" synonyms: mix, blend, agitate; More beat, whip, whisk, fold in "stir the mixture well" add an ingredient to (a liquid or other substance) by mixing it in with a spoon or other implement. "stir in the flour and cook gently for two minutes" 2. move or cause to move slightly. "nothing stirred except the wind" synonyms: move slightly, change one's position, shift More "Travis stirred in his sleep" disturb, rustle, shake, move, flutter, agitate "a breeze stirred the leaves" (of a person or animal) rise or wake from sleep. "no one else had stirred yet" synonyms: get up, get out of bed, rouse oneself, rise; More wake (up), awaken; informalrise and shine, surface, show signs of life; formalarise; literarywaken "she finally stirred at ten o'clock" antonyms: go to bed, retire (of a person) leave or go out of (a place). "as he grew older, he seldom stirred from his apartment" synonyms: move, budge, make a move, shift, go away; leave "I never stirred from here" antonyms: stay, stay put begin or cause to begin to be active or to develop. "the 1960s, when the civil rights movement stirred" synonyms: spur, drive, rouse, prompt, propel, prod, motivate, encourage; More urge, impel; provoke, goad, prick, sting, incite, light a fire under "the war stirred him to action" 3. arouse strong feelings in (someone); move or excite. "they will be stirred to action by what is written" synonyms: arouse, rouse, fire, kindle, inspire, stimulate, excite, awaken, quicken; literarywaken "symbolism can stir the imagination" antonyms: stultify arouse or prompt (a feeling or memory) or inspire (the imagination). "the story stirred many memories of my childhood" noun noun: stir 1. a slight physical movement. "I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir" a commotion. plural noun: stirs "the event caused quite a stir" synonyms: commotion, disturbance, fuss, excitement, turmoil, sensation; More informalto-do, hoo-ha, hullabaloo, flap, splash "the news caused a stir" an initial sign of a specified feeling. "Caroline felt a stir of anger deep within her breast" 2. an act of mixing food or drink with a spoon or other implement. "he gives his chocolate milk a stir" Origin

Old English styrian, of Germanic origin; related to German stören ‘disturb.’ stir2 stər/ nouninformal noun: stir; plural noun: stirs prison. "I've spent twenty-eight years in stir" Origin

mid 19th century: perhaps from Romany sturbin ‘jail.’