Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. To cause to move or shift, especially slightly or with irregular motion: A breeze stirred the branches. To excite strong feelings in or rouse, as from indifference: The speaker stirred us to volunteer at stir fry ingredients homeless shelter. Often used with up: stir up trouble.

To change position slightly: The leaves were stirring in the breeze. To start to move, especially in rising from sleep: The house was quiet, as no one had stirred yet. To move about actively or busily: People were stirring about the office. To move away from a customary or usual place or position: instructed the guards not to stir from their posts.

To stir or mix a liquid or mixture: stood at the counter stirring. To be capable of being stirred: a mixture that stirs easily. To happen or begin: when the civil rights movement first stirred. A stirring, mixing, or poking movement: gave the fire a stir. A slight movement: slept soundly and barely made a stir.

An excited reaction or commotion: The news caused quite a stir in our family. Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. Stir a collection of solid bodies or particles, especially burning coals. Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. To mix something gently, using circular motions with a spoon.