stir
verb /stɜː(r)/
/stɜːr/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they stir | /stɜː(r)/ /stɜːr/ |
| he / she / it stirs | /stɜːz/ /stɜːrz/ |
| past simple stirred | /stɜːd/ /stɜːrd/ |
| past participle stirred | /stɜːd/ /stɜːrd/ |
| -ing form stirring | /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/ /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to move a liquid or substance around, using a spoon or something similar, in order to mix it completely
- stir something She stirred her tea.
- Stir the paint before you use it.
- stir something into something The vegetables are stirred into the rice while it is hot.
- stir something in Stir in the milk until the sauce thickens.
Synonyms mixmix- stir
- mingle
- blend
- mix to combine two or more substances, qualities, ideas or feelings, usually in a way that means they cannot easily be separated; to be combined in this way:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Oil and water do not mix.
- stir to move a liquid or substance around, using a spoon or something similar, in order to mix it completely:
- She stirred her tea.
- mingle to combine or be combined. Mingle can be used to talk about sounds, colours, feelings, ideas, qualities or substances. It is used in written English to talk about how a scene or event appears to somebody or how they experience it: The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. • He felt a kind of happiness mingled with regret.
- blend to mix two or more substances or flavours together; to be mixed together:
- Blend the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste.
- to mix/mingle/blend (something) with something
- to mix/stir/mingle/blend something into something
- to mix/stir/mingle/blend something together
- to mix/stir/blend ingredients
- to mix/mingle/blend flavours
- to mix/blend colours
- mixed/mingled feelings
- to mix/stir/blend something thoroughly/well/gently
Collocations CookingCookingPreparing- prepare a dish/a meal/a menu/dinner/the fish
- weigh out 100g/4oz of sugar/the ingredients
- wash/rinse the lettuce/spinach/watercress
- chop/slice/dice the carrots/onions/potatoes
- peel the carrots/onion/potatoes/garlic/orange
- grate a carrot/the cheese/some nutmeg
- remove/discard the bones/seeds/skin
- blend/combine/mix (together) the flour and water/all the ingredients
- beat/whisk the cream/eggs/egg whites
- knead/shape/roll (out) the dough
- heat the oil in a frying pan
- preheat/heat the oven/(British English) the grill/(North American English) the broiler
- bring to (British English) the boil/(North American English) a boil
- stir constantly/gently with a wooden spoon
- reduce the heat
- simmer gently for 20 minutes/until reduced by half
- melt the butter/chocolate/cheese/sugar
- brown the meat for 8–20 minutes
- drain the pasta/the water from the pot/in a colander
- mash the potatoes/banana/avocado
- cook food/fish/meat/rice/pasta/a Persian dish
- bake (a loaf of) bread/a cake/(especially North American English) cookies/(British English) biscuits/a pie/potatoes/fish/scones/muffins
- boil cabbage/potatoes/an egg/water
- fry/deep-fry/stir-fry the chicken/vegetables
- grill meat/steak/chicken/sausages/a hot dog
- roast potatoes/peppers/meat/chicken/lamb
- sauté garlic/mushrooms/onions/potatoes/vegetables
- steam rice/vegetables/spinach/asparagus/dumplings
- toast bread/nuts
- microwave food/popcorn/(British English) a ready meal
- serve in a glass/on a bed of rice/with potatoes
- arrange the slices on a plate/in a layer
- carve the meat/lamb/chicken/turkey
- dress/toss a salad
- dress with/drizzle with olive oil/vinaigrette
- top with a slice of lemon/a scoop of ice cream/whipped cream/syrup
- garnish with a sprig of parsley/fresh basil leaves/lemon wedges/a slice of lime/a twist of orange
- sprinkle with salt/sugar/herbs/parsley/freshly ground black pepper
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatingc1- Boil the mixture, stirring frequently.
- Bring to the boil, stirring all the time.
- Chop an onion and stir it into the sauce.
- Gradually stir in the beaten egg.
- Stir over a medium heat for three minutes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- thoroughly
- well
- carefully
- …
- into
- stir over a high, low, etc. heat
- [intransitive, transitive] to move, or to make something move, slightly
- She heard the baby stir in the next room.
- stir something/somebody A slight breeze was stirring the branches.
- A noise stirred me from sleep.
Extra Examples- Nothing stirred except the wind.
- The wind came in tiny puffs that hardly stirred the surface of the water.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- barely
- hardly
- slightly
- …
- stir in your sleep
- [intransitive, transitive] to move, or to make somebody move, in order to do something
- You haven't stirred from that chair all evening!
- stir yourself/somebody Come on, stir yourself. You're late!
- stir somebody into/to something Their complaints have finally stirred him into action.
Extra Examples- The students stirred restlessly in their seats.
- She could hear the baby stirring in the next room.
- [transitive] to make somebody excited or make them feel something strongly
- It's a book that really stirs the imagination.
- stir somebody She was stirred by his sad story.
- stir somebody to something The preachers were stirred to new zeal.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsc2- He was stirred by the child's sad story.
- It was not music to set hearts on fire or deeply stir the emotions.
- The encounter stirred long-forgotten feelings within her.
- This brutal killing has stirred the nation's conscience.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- deeply
- up
- [intransitive] (of a feeling or a mood) to begin to be felt
- A feeling of guilt began to stir in her.
- New optimism was stirring throughout the country.
- [transitive, intransitive] stir (it) (British English, informal, disapproving) to try to cause trouble
- You're just stirring it!
More Like This Consonant-doubling verbsConsonant-doubling verbs- bob
- club
- dub
- grab
- rub
- sob
- throb
- kid
- nod
- pad
- plod
- prod
- shred
- skid
- thud
- beg
- blog
- bug
- drag
- drug
- flag
- hug
- jog
- log
- mug
- nag
- plug
- bar
- confer
- infer
- occur
- prefer
- refer
- star
- stir
- transfer
- acquit
- admit
- allot
- chat
- clot
- commit
- jut
- knit
- pat
- regret
- rot
- spot
- submit
- appal
- cancel
- channel
- control
- counsel
- enrol
- equal
- excel
- fuel
- fulfil
- label
- level
- marvel
- model
- pedal
- quarrel
- signal
- travel
mix
move
feelings
cause trouble
Word OriginOld English styrian, of Germanic origin; related to German stören ‘disturb’.
Idioms
stir the blood
- to make somebody excited
- The atmosphere in a theatre never failed to stir her blood.
stir your stumps
- (old-fashioned, British English, informal) to begin to move; to hurry