Pronunciation

\Stir\

Verb

Transitive

• imp. & p. p.: Stirred
• p. pr. & vb. n.: Stirring

[OE. stiren, steren, sturen, AS. styrian; probably akin to D. storen to disturb, G. st["o]ren, OHG. st[=o]ren to scatter, destroy. [root]166.]

1. To change the place of in any manner; to move.

        My foot I had never yet in five days been able to
        stir.                                 --Sir W.
                                              Temple.

2. To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as

  of a liquid, by passing something through it; to agitate;
  as, to stir a pudding with a spoon.

        My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred.
                                              --Shak.

3. To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot.

        Stir not questions of jurisdiction.   --Bacon.

4. To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt;

  to excite. ``To stir men to devotion. --Chaucer.

        An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife. --Shak.

        And for her sake some mutiny will stir. --Dryden.

Note: In all senses except the first, stir is often followed

     by up with an intensive effect; as, to stir up fire; to
     stir up sedition.

Syn: To move; incite; awaken; rouse; animate; stimulate;

    excite; provoke.

Translations

• German: bewegen (1), rühren (2), hervorrufen (3), anstacheln (4)

Intransitive

1. To move; to change one's position.

        I had not power to stir or strive, But felt that I
        was still alive.                      --Byron.

2. To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or

  busy one's self.

        All are not fit with them to stir and toil. --Byron.

        The friends of the unfortunate exile, far from
        resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring
        anxiously in his behalf.              --Merivale.

3. To become the object of notice; to be on foot.

        They fancy they have a right to talk freely upon
        everything that stirs or appears.     --I. Watts.

4. To rise, or be up, in the morning. [Colloq.] --Shak.

Translations

• German: (sich) bewegen (1), (sich) regen (2), auffallen (3)

Noun

1. The act or result of stirring; agitation; tumult; bustle;

  noise or various movements.

        Why all these words, this clamor, and this stir?
                                              --Denham.

        Consider, after so much stir about genus and
        species, how few words we have yet settled
        definitions of.                       --Locke.

2. Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder;

  seditious uproar.

        Being advertised of some stirs raised by his
        unnatural sons in England.            --Sir J.
                                              Davies.

3. Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.

Translations

• German: Erregung (1,3), Aufruhr (2)