Webster's English Dictionary

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stir

1. stir \'st*r\ vb or stirred;  or stir.ring [ME stiren, fr. OE styrian; 
   akin to MHG stu:rn to incite] 1a: to cause an esp. slight movement or 
   change of position of  1b: to disturb the quiet of : AGITATE  2a: to 
   disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of esp. by  a 
   continued cirular movement 2b: to mix by or as if by stirring  3: BESTIR, 
   EXERT  4: to bring into notice or debate : RAISE  5a: INCITE  5b: QUICKEN  
   5c: to call forth (as a memory) : EVOKE  5d: PROVOKE  1a: to make a slight 
   movement  1b: to begin to move (as in rousing)  2: to begin to be active  
   3: to be active or busy  4: to pass an implement through a substance with a 
   circular movement  5: to be able to be stirred  - stir.rer n
2. stir n 1a: a state of disturbance, agitation, or activity  1b: 
   widespread notice and discussion : IMPRESSION  2: a slight movement  3: a 
   stirring movement MADO mean excitement or agitation accompanying an action 
   or event. STIR suggests brisk and restless movement of a crowd; BUSTLE 
   implies a noisy, obtrusive, often self-important activity; FLURRY suggests 
   nervous agitation and undue haste; POTHER and FUSS imply fidgety, needless 
   activity; ADO suggests fussy activity and waste of energy SYN syn STIR, 
   BUSTLE, FLURRY, POTHER, FUSS, 
3. stir n [origin unknown] slang  : PRISON