n. & v.
n. 1 Brit. a large milk-can. 2 a machine for making butter by agitating milk or cream.
v. 1 tr. agitate (milk or cream) in a churn. 2 tr. produce (butter) in this way. 3 tr. (usu. foll. by up) cause distress to; upset, agitate. 4 intr. (of a liquid) seethe, foam violently (the churning sea). 5 tr. agitate or move (liquid) vigorously, causing it to foam. churn out produce routinely or mechanically, esp. in large quantities.
[ OE cyrin f. Gmc ]