stir1 verbstir2 noun
stirstir1 /stɜː $ stɜːr/ ●●● S3 W3 verb (past tense and past participle stirred, present participle stirring) 
WORD ORIGINstir1
Origin:
Old English styrianVERB TABLE
stir
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | stir |
| he, she, it | stirs | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | stirred |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have stirred |
| he, she, it | has stirred | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had stirred |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will stir |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have stirred |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am stirring |
| he, she, it | is stirring | |
| you, we, they | are stirring | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was stirring |
| you, we, they | were stirring | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been stirring |
| he, she, it | has been stirring | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been stirring |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be stirring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been stirring |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Stir the paint to make sure that the colours are thoroughly mixed.
- Add the grated cheese to the sauce and stir it in.
- As I entered the room, she stirred slightly, then went back to sleep.
- Could you stir the spaghetti sauce for me?
- I watched him as he stirred sugar into his coffee.
- Roger momentarily stirred, turned in the bed and murmured something inaudible.
- The crowd began to stir as the band walked on stage.
- The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.
- When the butter has melted, stir in the soy sauce and ginger.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir until the fondue thickens slightly.
- Add the Risotto rice and, stirring continuously, cook for 2-3 minutes.
- George stirred and reluctantly opened his eyes.
- Nothing stirs, either in the offices or at the crossroads.
- Pregnancy in some women and men stirs up issues that previously appeared to be settled.
- Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, until liquid evaporates, leaving a thick paste.
- The Fed continues to hold growth back arbitrarily, spooked by inflation that has shown no signs of stirring for years.
THESAURUSto mix foods, liquids etc
to put different substances or liquids together so that they can no longer be separated: · Mix yellow and blue paint to make green.· This cake is really easy – you just mix everything together in the bowl.· Concrete is made by mixing gravel with sand, cement, and water.
to mix things together so that they form a single substance. Combine is more formal than mix: · Combine the flour and the eggs.· Steel is produced by combining iron with carbon.
to move a spoon or stick around in a liquid, a pan etc, especially when you are mixing things together: · Keep stirring until the sauce becomes thicker.· Stir the sugar into the warm milk.· Stir the paint before you use it.
to mix together soft or liquid substances to form a single smooth substance: · Blend the yogurt with fresh fruit for a great drink.
to mix food together quickly and thoroughly using a fork or kitchen tool – used especially about eggs: · Beat the eggs and add them to the milk and flour.
to mix foods that are soft or liquid very quickly so that air is mixed in, using a fork or special tool: · Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
to mix a liquid with water in order to make it weaker: · Dilute the bleach with two parts water to one part bleach.
to go to a different place, or change the position of your body: · Sarah moved away from the window.· Every time I move I get a pain in my left shoulder.
to move slowly from one side to the other: · The branches swayed in the wind.· Donny swayed drunkenly as he walked back to his car.
to move repeatedly from one side to another, with small gentle movements: · He rocked backward and forward in his chair.· The boat rocked from side to side with the waves.
to move unsteadily from side to side: · The bike wobbled a bit, but she soon got it under control.
to keep moving or playing with your fingers, hands, feet etc, because you are bored or nervous: · Diana fidgeted nervously with her pencil.
to make very small movements from side to side with your body, especially because you feel uncomfortable: · By the end of the hour, most of the children were squirming in their seats.
to make small movements from side to side, especially in order to get into or out of something: · The dog wriggled under the fence and escaped into the street.· She managed to wriggle into the dress, but it was much too tight.
if part of your body twitches, it makes small movements that you cannot control: · A muscle on Yang’s face twitched.
written to make a movement – used especially when describing a situation in which no one moves, or someone wakes up: · In the village a dog barked but no one stirred.· The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.
to move – used when you are trying hard to make something move, often without success: · The piano wouldn’t budge.
Longman Language Activatorto deliberately start an argument · I didn't want to start an argument, so I kept quiet.
also pick a quarrel British to deliberately start an argument with someone by saying something that you know will make them angry: · Just ignore him, he's always picking fights.pick a fight with: · Burton was at the bar, trying to pick a quarrel with a stranger.
to deliberately do or say something to make other people argue because you want to cause problems for them: · Just as we were beginning to get on with each other again, Jackie came and stirred things up.· Ignore him -- he's just trying to stir things up because he's jealous.
especially spoken to argue about something because you think it is important, even though other people may think you are being unreasonable: · I don't want to make an issue out of it, but that's the second time you've been late this week.· Although she was annoyed that Ian had given her secret away, she decided not to make an issue of it.
to deliberately try to cause trouble, arguments etc formal to deliberately encourage people to cause trouble, fight, argue etc: · Four men were arrested for inciting the riot.incite somebody to something: · She was charged with inciting the crowd to violence.incite somebody to do something: · Tribal leaders are accused of inciting their followers to attack rival tribes.
if something provokes an angry situation or a reaction, they cause it, usually deliberately: · The new laws have provoked violent demonstrations in some towns.· The ambassador's offensive remarks provoked widespread criticism.provoke somebody to something: · The judge ruled that Becker provoked her husband to attack her so she could shoot him.
to deliberately try to cause arguments, fighting etc between people: stir up something: · I hope you're not trying to stir up trouble.· His series of articles on party leaders has stirred up a great deal of public controversy.stir something up: · He was accused of trying to stir rebellion up among the peasants.
to mix substances or liquids together to mix different liquids or substances together so that they can no longer be separated: mix something and something: · You can make green by mixing blue and yellow paint.mix something together: · Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.· If these two chemicals are mixed together, they will explode.mix something with something: · Concrete is made by mixing gravel with sand, cement, and water.
to mix different substances or liquids together thoroughly in order to produce a new substance or liquid: combine something and something: · Combine the egg yolks and the cream, and cook over a low heat.combine something with something: · Steel is produced by combining iron with carbon.· To maintain a constant standard, some wine producers combine this year's wine with stocks from the previous year.
to mix things by moving them around in a container with a spoon or a stick: · Stir the paint to make sure that the colours are thoroughly mixed.stir something into something: · I watched him as he stirred sugar into his coffee.stir in something/stir something in: · When the butter has melted, stir in the soy sauce and ginger.· Add the grated cheese to the sauce and stir it in.
to mix liquids or soft substances together when you are preparing food, with quick, strong movements of a fork, spoon, or special machine: · Carry on beating the eggs with a fork until they're light and fluffy.beat something together: · In a separate bowl, beat together the oil and flour.beat something into something: · Beat the cream into the fruit puree, pour into bowls, and chill.
to mix liquids or soft substances when you are preparing food, in order to make one smooth substance, using something such as a fork or special machine: · Blend the sugar, eggs, and flour.blend something together: · The ingredients should be blended together until they are smooth.blend something into something: · Beat the egg yolks with 2 tablespoons of water and blend them into the white sauce.
to mix foods that are soft or liquid very quickly so that air is mixed in, especially using a fork or special tool: · Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl over a pan of hot water.whisk something together: · He whisked the butter and eggs together, wondering if this was the right way to make an omelette.
to mix a liquid with water in order to make it weaker: · For babies, dilute the fruit juice with at least the same amount of water.dilute something with something: · Concentrated bleach can be diluted with water.
to move to go to a different place or to change the position of your body: · Every time I move I get a pain in my left shoulder.· Don't move, there's a spider on your back.move away/forward/towards etc: · Sarah moved away from the window.· My mother moved forward and grabbed my wrist.move around (=to different parts of an area): · I can hear someone moving around downstairs!
when someone or something moves: · Any movement will set off the alarm.· He watched her graceful movements as she came towards him.· The doctor thinks she'll recover quite a lot of movement, though maybe not all.movement of: · the movement of the human heartmovement towards/across/through etc: · Make gentle sweeping movements across the hedge so that the blade can cut on both sides.sudden movement: · I crept to the door, and with a sudden movement, opened it wide.
especially written to make a slight movement, for example just before you wake up or start to speak: · The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.· The crowd began to stir as the band walked on stage.
to make a movement, especially as you start to do something or try to do something: · "The dog won't touch you," she said , "unless you make a move towards me."· He made a move to kiss me, but I turned away.
to move to a different position in a bed, on a chair etc: · Move over a bit, I'm falling out of bed.· Penelope moved over and took the driver's seat.
British informal to move from one place or position to another, or to make something do this: · Jonas stood and listened, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.· The sun had shifted to the west.· She shifted her gaze from me to Bobby with a look of suspicion.· The building's foundation has shifted, which is why there are cracks in the plaster.shift your legs/arm/foot etc: · Tell Alan to shift his feet so Maggie can sit down.· The leather armchair creaked as Roberts shifted his bulk.
to stop sleeping to stop sleeping. Wake is more formal than wake up and is usually used in writing.: · She woke early the next morning, and slipped out of the house unseen.· Babies often wake because they are hungry.· The dog suddenly woke up and started barking.wake up at 5 a.m./12 noon etc: · I woke up at five o'clock and couldn't get back to sleep again.
not asleep: be awake: · "Are you awake, Lucy?" she whispered.· I'm usually awake before anyone else.be wide awake (=be completely awake): · It was nearly three in the morning, but Jill was still wide awake.be half awake/barely awake (=be not quite awake): · He listened, only half awake, as the teacher's voice droned on.· Barely awake, we stumbled out of the tent to find ourselves in a foot of water.keep somebody awake: · I've stopped drinking coffee in the evenings, as it tends to keep me awake at night.stay awake: · Some members of the audience were clearly having difficulty staying awake.lie awake (=be unable to sleep at night): · Ben lay awake, worrying about next day's exam. · I've lain awake at nights, turning the problem over and over in my mind.
also come round British to gradually become conscious again after being given a drug or being hit on the head: · She was coming round after her operation, but she still felt dizzy and very sleepy.· Henry's eyelids flickered. 'He's coming around!' Marie cried.
to move slightly and wake for a short time, then go back to sleep again: · As I entered the room, she stirred slightly, then went back to sleep.· Roger momentarily stirred, turned in the bed and murmured something inaudible.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Looking at the photographs stirred childhood memories of the long hot summers. The poem succeeds in stirring the imagination. John was always stirring up trouble in class. Dave’s just trying to stir things up because he’s jealous.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The new production targets have stirred up a hornets' nest. I’m going to go stir-crazy if I don’t get out of this house.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Looking at the photographs stirred childhood memories of the long hot summers. The poem succeeds in stirring the imagination. John was always stirring up trouble in class. Dave’s just trying to stir things up because he’s jealous.· A light breeze stirred the waters of the bay.
(=deliberately try to make people have strong feelings)· His speech roused the crowd and stirred up their emotions.
(=deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people)· Right-wing parties tried to stir up hatred and exploit racial tension.
The new production targets have stirred up a hornets' nest. (=add them by stirring or mixing)· Heat the sauce gently, then stir in the remaining ingredients.
(=cause strong feelings in people)· The case aroused passions throughout the country.
(=making people feel excited and eager to do something)· Thousands of people were inspired by his stirring speeches.
I’m going to go stir-crazy if I don’t get out of this house.· Cook, stirring constantly until thickened; about 2 minutes. 4 Cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming.· Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes.· Return to the pan and heat gently, stirring constantly until the custard coats the back of the spoon.· Cook over low heat until melted, stirring constantly.· Blend the egg and lemon mixture into the soup, stirring constantly.· To make pancakes, in a large mixing bowl, combine flour and water, stirring constantly until all water is absorbed.· They should be stirred constantly until they are the required colour.· Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly while mixture forms a paste.
· Slowly pour some of the hot milk on to the cornflour mixture, stirring continuously.· Continue to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring continuously.· Bring to the boil, stirring continuously, and cook for 2-3 minutes, still stirring.· Return meat to pan and cook for 1 min more, stirring continuously.· Add the Risotto rice and, stirring continuously, cook for 2-3 minutes.· Put grated cheese into a 7-inch fondue dish or enamelled iron casserole and melt gently, stirring continuously.· Bring to the boil, stirring continuously.· Cook the beans, stirring continuously, until they are heated through and look like thick porridge.
· Brown the onion, stirring frequently for five minutes.· Keep the mixture at a bare simmer and stir frequently.· Add the bacon and venison and cook quickly for a few minutes, stirring frequently, to seal the meat. 4.· To prevent scorching, stir frequently and add water as soup thickens.· Let the sauce almost imperceptibly bubble for fifteen to twenty minutes, stirring frequently.· Cook the mushrooms in the bacon fat over high heat 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown.· Add the beans and continue to heat covered for another 1/2 hour. Stir frequently.· Add chili sauce and lime juice and continue simmering, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.
· Gently stir in the other ingredients and arrange in scallop shells or on a plate.· Gently stir rice into chicken mixture.· Cook for a minute or two until it begins to set, then stir gently to lightly scramble. 4.· Add 1 cup sugar for every pound of fruit, and stir gently.· Remove large debris and disperse the cells in the sucrose by gently stirring with the needle.· Add black-eyed peas and gently stir in.· Cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring gently, frequently. 3.· Gently stir, then pour over cooled filling in crust.
· Stir for about 1 minute, then gradually stir in the milk.· Gradually stir in melted margarine and mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.· Gradually stir in the rest of the milk.· Gradually stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring.· Add the seasonings and the soy sauce, then gradually stir in the olive oil; add lemon juice.· Gradually stir in flour mixture; mix well.· Gradually stir in tea until smooth.
· Cook, stirring constantly until thickened; about 2 minutes. 4 Cool, stirring occasionally to prevent a skin forming.· Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until tender but not brown.· Place in a hot heavy-based pan or wok and cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.· Reduce heat to low; cook 3 to 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.· Stir in milk and soup and heat until bubbling, stirring occasionally.· Cook over medium-low heat 3 to 4 minutes, or until well-blended, stirring occasionally.· Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until all the water from the beans has evaporated.· Add peanuts and cook to 280 degrees. Stir occasionally and continue cooking to 305 degrees.
· The students stir restlessly in their seats, shuffling their papers and capping their pens.· The thought made her feel cold, causing her to stir restlessly.· Charlie stirred restlessly as he leaned there.· The horses stirred restlessly and the limbs of the thorns wriggled.
· Add the tomato pur e and stir well until heated through.· Sprinkle with flour and stir well.· Add the milk, adding sufficient milk until the mixture is sloppy but holds its shape. Stir well.· Add stock, wine, tomatoes and okra. Stir well.· Add a spoonful of the warm soup and stir well.· Add salt, pepper, cinnamon, tomato paste and water and stir well.· To dry Mix one part Glycerine with two-three parts hot water. Stir well.· Add drained sauerkraut and stir well, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan.
NOUN· The news is sure to stir local residents into action.· The announcement that Tommy Morrison is HIV-positive has stirred California legislators to action.· How can words stir anyone to action or even reflection if the accompanying music fails to quicken the pulse?· But Charlton had only stirred the giant into action.· The clock's chime also stirs other things into action, as explained below.· The act of hearing and understanding the scriptures had aroused their emotions and stirred them to action.
· She was stirring the coffee in front of her, an innocent expression on her face as he came back to the table.· Farris stirred in sugar and coffee creamer from their packets.· He poured an inch of condensed milk into the mug plus four spoons of sugar and stirred the coffee before straining it.· Win stirred his coffee, thought, sat, stirred.· I use one spoon to eat the soup, another to stir the coffee and then the cereal.· He looks down and stirs his coffee.
· And already it looks like stirring up fierce controversy.· The dismissal of such people would stir up controversy the president would just as soon avoid.· His remarks are nevertheless bound to stir controversy.· When they stirred controversies, they were generally reported by the feature pages and gossip columns of newspapers.· Male speaker Anybody with strong convictions that what he is doing is right is bound to stir up controversy.· The course was moved to Reinhardt College in 1994, after complaints about its political overtones stirred a controversy at Kennesaw State.· But his officials are stirring up their own controversy over social policy.· But the role has put him at odds with the United States and stirred controversy in his own country.
· That was far too weak and mild a word for the emotions he stirred.· The act of hearing and understanding the scriptures had aroused their emotions and stirred them to action.· But beneath the careful cynicism she was aware of another, less comfortable, emotion stirring inside her.
· If their tendency is that they are likely or intended to stir up racial hatred, that is sufficient. 4.· This has caused humanitarian problems that have helped to stir up racism and hatred.
· When the land lies under the grip of the ice an ancient primaeval force stirs in the heart of the nation.· Then, as she watched him, still hovering indecisively, she felt an odd compassion stir her heart.· They surrounded Odysseus, weeping and laughing and welcoming him home until they stirred within his own heart the desire to weep.· In several bitter conference meetings, Armey stirred the hearts of conservatives with passionate speeches against any vote on the issue.· How could these, set beside Plato and Euclid, stir the mind and heart?· Grief stirred within Achilles' heart as he listened.· So of course the boy would believe Duvall when he described the stirring in his heart that night.
· It can also stir the imagination for every parish Sunday and solemnity and right through Eastertide.· Not much to stir the imagination here.
· My memory was vaguely stirred when I saw the authors' name.· And her hesitation hadn't even been caused by the grim memory his words had stirred up.
· Slowly pour some of the hot milk on to the cornflour mixture, stirring continuously.· Combine vanilla and next 3 ingredients and add flour mixture stirring until well-blended.· Pour on to the egg mixture, stirring all the time.· Return mixture to pan, stir in cream, and heat through.· If the mixture is stirred vigorously, the tin particles form a froth on the top that can be scraped off.· Bring to a boil again, add cornstarch mixture and stir till slightly thickened.· Bring to the boil and slowly add the arrowroot mixture, stirring constantly until the sauce has thickened.· Add to oxtail mixture and cook, stirring, until thickened.
· He could see a few of the other scullions nearby. standing on their stools stirring pots, wiping stoves, polishing stove-fronts.· She could stir her own pots and pans at your feet while you cook dinner.
· Drain the pasta and stir into the sauce.· Return the pasta to the same large kettle and stir in the sauce.· Mix the cornflour with a little cold water and stir into the sauce.· Add chili sauce and lime juice and continue simmering, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.· Bring to the boil and slowly add the arrowroot mixture, stirring constantly until the sauce has thickened.· I miss smelling new smells and stirring new sauces and being surprised by the taste of something different.· Bring to the boil, stirring until the sauce is clear and thickened.· Blend cornstarch with cup cold water, stir into stew and cook, stirring, until sauce thickens.
· My father went back to stirring the soup, which I could smell now above the cigar smoke.· Another silence while I stir my soup.· Stephan hummed a little tune and stirred his soup.· Plump, juicy toes stirred into the soup.
· Add the kilo of sugar and stir water, sugar and wort until they are more or less dissolved.· Farris stirred in sugar and coffee creamer from their packets.· Mix together the lemon juice and freshly squeezed orange juice, then stir in the caster sugar.· Put the sugar and water into the pot and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.· Stir in remaining ingredients and gently cook, stirring until sugar dissolves.· Cook over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.· Reduce heat to low and stir in sugar and butter.
· I hate having my tea stirred for me, I'd rather stir my own tea.· Sitting in the booth, he stirred his unsweetened tea as if it were poison.· The effect of which is similar to stirring a cup of tea.· Gradually stir in tea until smooth.· He continued to stir his tea, as if there might be something in there to stir.
· Don't deliberately stir up trouble. 5 Pray for the person that is picking on you.· When Hercules arrived she met him kindly and told him she would give him the girdle, but Hera stirred up trouble.· And, of course, if he did stir up trouble he could always be put inside again.· We appreciate the investment, without which we would be unable to stir up the trouble that gives our lives meaning.· While all this was going on agents of Naggaroth were abroad throughout the Old World stirring up trouble.· For lawyers, unlike most accountants, love to stir up trouble.· Whenever there is a chance, she and her partners will emerge and stir up trouble.
· A wind stirred his hair, fanned Madra's out behind her.· He had others in his grizzled russet tonsure, dropped from the higher branches as the wind stirred them.· There wasn't enough wind to stir a lock of hair, but I didn't want the noise of the outboard.· But ocean currents, wind and tides stir the waters.· For a few seconds, the wind picked up, stirring the dust.· The open savannah is marked by cattle trails that disappear whenever a strong gust of wind stirs up the dust.
VERB· With grace, preferably, which adds an uplifting, stirring, Homeric touch.· Combine vanilla and next 3 ingredients and add flour mixture stirring until well-blended.· Remove the pan from the heat and gradually add the beer, stirring constantly.· When all the cornmeal is added, begin stirring with a long-handled wooden spoon.· Gradually add the milk, stirring, and bring the mixture to the boil.· Remove from heat. Add baking soda and stir quickly until mixture foams.· Gradually add to pan, stirring until thickened.· Dice 1 mango; puree the other. Add to skillet and stir to blend.
· Miguel began to stir, and opened his eyes.· When all the cornmeal is added, begin stirring with a long-handled wooden spoon.· Scraps of paper, previously sodden, begin to stir in the gutters.· The farm animals begin to stir, the roosters consider crowing.· My eyes fell on the bed and to my horror something began slowly to stir under the blanket.· It was foolish, just to feel different because of her hair, but excitement had begun stirring within her.· As soon as the mixture begins to set, stir in the essences. 6.· When did the doubts begin to stir?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1mix [transitive] to move a liquid or substance around with a spoon or stick in order to mix it together: - And now, 5 years on, the City of Hereford is stirring to the call of the cup.
- As he was stirring it he heard Christopher cough and start to cry.
- He ate on, oblivious to the storms he was stirring into the air around him.
- If the global surface was in motion, geophysicists realized that the rock beneath it must also be stirring.
- Nearby, the remainder of the squadron was stirring after a brief respite in a busy twenty-four period.
- Other business activity also is stirring on the commercial half of the 60-acre Town Center site, Malone said.
- There are other signs that the club is stirring itself commercially as it responds to the needs of its growing membership.
- What high-pressure or low-pressure rock fronts were stirring up the surface of the globe?
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 mix2move slightly [intransitive, transitive] 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 move3leave a place [intransitive] to leave or move from a place: He hadn’t stirred from his chair all morning.4feelings a)[transitive] 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] if a feeling stirs in you, you begin to feel it: Excitement stirred inside her.5do something [transitive] to make someone start doing somethingstir somebody to do something The incident stirred students to protest.6cause trouble be stirring (it) British English informal to cause trouble between people by spreading false or secret information: Ben’s always stirring!stir somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb1to deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people: John was always stirring up trouble in class. Dave’s just trying to stir things up because he’s jealous.2to make small pieces of something move around in the air or in water: The wind had stirred up a powdery red dust.stir1 verbstir2 noun
stirstir2 noun WORD ORIGINstir2
Origin:
1-2 1300-1400 ➔ STIR13 1800-1900 Perhaps from Romany stariben, sturraben ‘prison’EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- As far as she's concerned I've been drug-free since I come out of 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.
- One day a lad called Stanley Wallace created a real stir.
THESAURUSpreparing food
to cut cheese, carrot etc into small pieces by rubbing it against a special tool: · Grate the cheese and sprinkle it over the top of the pasta.
to make butter, chocolate etc become liquid: · Melt the butter, chocolate, and 1 teaspoon of cream over a low heat.
British English, sift American English to put flour or other powders through a sieve (=tool like a net made of wire, which you use for removing larger grains or pieces): · Sift the flour and cocoa before adding to the rest of the mixture.
to cut something into pieces, especially using a big knife: · Chop up the vegetables.
to cut vegetables or meat into small square pieces: · Dice the carrots and then fry them in butter.
to add salt, pepper etc to food: · Season the meat before grilling.
to use a lot of force to break something such as seeds into very small pieces or into a powder: · Add one clove of crushed garlic.
to combine different foods together: · Mix together all the ingredients in one bowl.
to mix food together quickly with a fork or other tool: · Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks.
to turn food around with a spoon: · Stir the sauce gently to prevent burning.
to gently mix another substance into a mixture: · Fold in the beaten egg whites.
to press dough (=a mixture of flour and water) many times with your hands when you are making bread: · Knead the dough for ten minutes, until smooth.
to slowly pour a small amount of a liquid onto something: · Drizzle with olive oil.
to leave something somewhere, before you do something else with it: · Let the mixture stand for a couple of hours so that it cools naturally.
to put different foods together as part of a meal: · Serve with rice and a salad.· Serve the aubergines on a bed of lettuce.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Plans for the motorway caused quite a stir among locals. Give that pan a stir, will you?COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The new production targets have stirred up a hornets' nest. I’m going to go stir-crazy if I don’t get out of this house.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
1[countable usually singular] a feeling of excitement or annoyancecreate/cause a stir Plans for the motorway caused quite a stir among locals. Give that pan a stir, will you?· A light breeze stirred the waters of the bay.
(=deliberately try to make people have strong feelings)· His speech roused the crowd and stirred up their emotions.
(=deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people)· Right-wing parties tried to stir up hatred and exploit racial tension.
The new production targets have stirred up a hornets' nest. (=add them by stirring or mixing)· Heat the sauce gently, then stir in the remaining ingredients.
(=cause strong feelings in people)· The case aroused passions throughout the country.
(=making people feel excited and eager to do something)· Thousands of people were inspired by his stirring speeches.
I’m going to go stir-crazy if I don’t get out of this house.· Later still, the place caused a stir by refusing service to then-Sen.· He also caused a stir with his purchase in 1896 and resale in segments of the Trafford Park estate in Manchester.· In the marketplace he caused no stir.· They are marvellously done, and they have caused a stir of approval in this country, while also raising doubts.· If I may say so, it caused quite a stir.· Finding it caused quite a stir in the brass band world.· Then some of the Cowboys players caused a stir when they hired a limousine to take them to practice.
· One day a lad called Stanley Wallace created a real stir.· Emygdius' ability to evangelize created such a stir that the newly appointed bishop was beheaded.· According to Al Perry, the strength of their new work is creating quite a stir around the studio.· Alternatively, they create a stir at a local level.· But two companies are creating a stir with their innovative ways of delivering that information.· There is something about pavements which creates a great stir, and it became the focus of attention.· Derek, a somewhat burly intense salesman in his early thirties, created a stir wherever he went.
· He gave the soup a stir.
Plans for the motorway caused quite a stir among locals.2[countable usually singular] an act of stirring something: Give that pan a stir, will you?3[countable, uncountable] American English old-fashioned informal a prison