STIRRING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does stirring mean? 

• STIRRING (noun)
  The noun STIRRING has 2 senses:

1. agitating a liquid with an implement

2. arousing to a particular emotion or action

  Familiarity information: STIRRING used as a noun is rare.

• STIRRING (adjective)
  The adjective STIRRING has 2 senses:

1. capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement

2. exciting strong but not unpleasant emotions

  Familiarity information: STIRRING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STIRRING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Agitating a liquid with an implement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

constant stirring prevents it from burning on the bottom of the pan

Hypernyms ("stirring" is a kind of...):

agitation (the act of agitating something; causing it to move around (usually vigorously))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Arousing to a particular emotion or action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

inspiration; stirring

Hypernyms ("stirring" is a kind of...):

arousal; rousing (the act of arousing)

Derivation:

stir (affect emotionally)

• STIRRING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Capable of arousing enthusiasm or excitement

Synonyms:

rousing; stirring

Context example:

stirring events such as wars and rescues

Similar:

stimulating (rousing or quickening activity or the senses)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exciting strong but not unpleasant emotions

Synonyms:

soul-stirring; stirring

Context example:

a stirring speech

Similar:

moving (arousing or capable of arousing deep emotion)

 Context examples 

Hola, by my hilt! it is time that we were stirring!

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She was up (and, as I believe to this hour, looking for that man) before anybody in the house was stirring.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The desire to write was stirring in Martin once more.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

There was not a soul stirring nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

"Was anybody stirring below when you went down, Jane?" inquired Mr. Rochester presently.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Then came another stirring of Wolf Larsen’s tremendous strength.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It caused him to feel a vague, sweet gladness, and he was aware of wild yearnings and stirrings for he knew not what.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It was no wonder that no one was stirring.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When a couple of hours had passed I heard something stirring in the Count's room, something like a sharp wail quickly suppressed; and then there was silence, deep, awful silence, which chilled me.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth—and it was soon done—done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)