v. 1 Often, stir up. agitate, shake (up), mix (up), scramble, amalgamate, mingle, commingle, intermingle, merge, blend, fold (in), churn (up), beat, whip (up) Stir all the ingredients together 2 move, rise, arise, get up, bestir (oneself), be up and about, Colloq get a move on, get moving, get a wiggle on, shake a leg, look or step lively, look alive, stir one's stumps It is about time you were up and stirring 3 disturb, trouble, affect, upset, stimulate, activate The play stirred the conscience of the king Mention 'diet' to Roberta and you'll stir up a wasp's nest. 4 Often, stir up. motivate, encourage, stimulate, energize, galvanize, electrify, animate, excite, inspire, provoke, move, rouse, arouse, get, prompt, urge, incite, spur, prod, induce, persuade, convince What will it take to stir the council to take action? The usual rabble-rousers were there, stirring up the crowd 5 Often, stir up. awaken, rouse, (cause to) recall or call to mind, revive, resuscitate Those photographs stir up so many old memories!
n. 6 bustle, activity, movement, stirring, action, commotion, flurry, confusion, tumult, ado, to-do, fuss, disturbance, excitement, hubbub, Colloq Brit kerfuffle There was a stir at the door, which was flung wide to allow Kitty to sweep in The news of her marriage caused quite a stir. 7 prison, jail or Brit also gaol, jail-house, clink, penitentiary, lock-up, Military Brit glasshouse, US brig, Slang chiefly Brit quod, US big house, pen, slammer, can, calaboose He claims he's in stir for something he didn't do