[churn] n [ME chyrne, fr. OE cyrin; akin to ON kjarni churn] (bef. 12c): a vessel for making butter in which milk or cream is agitated in order to separate the oily globules from the watery medium
[2]churn vt (15c) 1: to agitate (milk or cream) in a churn in order to make butter
2. a: to stir or agitate violently "an old stern-wheeler ~ing the muddy river" b: to make (as foam) by so doing
3: to make (the account of a client) excessively active by frequent purchases and sales primarily in order to generate commissions ~ vi 1: to work a churn
2. a: to produce or be in violent motion b: to proceed by means of rotating members (as wheels)