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stir

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verb American English pronunciation: stir /stɜr/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theystir
he/she/itstirs
present participlestirring
past tensestirred
past participlestirred
 
  2. 2

    stir

     or

    stir up

     [transitive] to make someone feel upset or angry

    The latest economic figures have stirred fears of growing inflation.

    stir anger/hatred/fears:

    This murder has stirred a lot of ill feeling in the community.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
    1. a.

      stir

       or

      stir up

       [transitive] to make someone feel enthusiastic about something
      stir hopes/excitement/interest:

      Approaching elections have stirred hopes of reform.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
    2. b.

      stir

       or

      stir up

       [transitive] to make someone think about something

      Seeing George again stirred old memories in me.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
  3. 3
    [intransitive] if an emotion or thought stirs in you, you feel it or think about it

    A faint memory stirred in my mind.

    A feeling of excitement stirred in her.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
  4. 4
    [intransitive] to move slightly after being still for a long time

    Early that morning the children begin stirring sleepily.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
  5. 5
    [intransitive] if you do not stir from a place, you do not leave it or move away from it

    She didn’t stir from her house for three days.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir
  6. 6
    [intransitive/transitive] to move, or to be moved, slightly because of the wind

    The white curtains stirred gently in the summer breeze.

    As he walked, a puff of wind stirred his hair.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  stirThesaurus entry for this meaning of stir

phrase

This is the American English definition of stir. View British English definition of stir.

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