EX:
- James Bond wants his dry martini stirred (mixed by turning the liquid with a stick), not shaken.
- It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (“stirring” here means “moving”).
- The wind is stirring the leaves (making them move).
- The sight of his old high school friend stirs up in him so many emotions.
- I like stir-fried dishes, they are tasty and quick to prepare.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
stir (verb)transitive verb
1.
a) to cause an especially slight movement or change of position of
b) to disturb the quiet of - agitate often used with up the bear stirred up the bees
2.
a) to disturb the relative position of the particles or parts of especially by a continued circular movement - stir the pudding stir the fire often used with up stirred up mud from the lake bottom
b) to mix by or as if by - stirring often used with in stir in the spices
3.
- bestir exert
4.
to bring into notice or debate - raise often used with up stir up sensitive issues
5.
a) to rouse to activity evoke strong feelings in - music that stirs the emotions
b) to call forth (as a memory) - evoke
intransitive verb
c) - provoke stir a storm of controversy
1.
a) to make a slight movement - the leaves were barely stirring
b) to begin to move (as in rousing)
c) to shift to another location - budge haven't stirred since I arrived
2.
to begin to be active - the factory stirred to life
3.
to be active or busy - not a creature was stirring Clement Moore
4.
to pass an implement through a substance with a circular movement
5.
to be able to be - stirred
1.
a) a state of disturbance, agitation, or brisk activity
b) widespread notice and discussion - impression the book caused quite a stir
2.
a slight movement
3.
a movement - stirring
slang - prison