verb / noun
churn
CHURN/tʃɜːrn/
To stir vigorously in continual motion.
The paddle churns the cream vigorously until it begins to separate into butter.
Etymology
The ancestor cyrin named the vessel in which milk or cream was agitated to make butter. The vessel’s name became a verb for that action, then broadened to vigorous shaking or stirring.
In context
I felt the wind elements in the air suddenly churn, that thread of magic belonging to Zhou Luochen dragging the airflow into a frenzied gathering, the grass and trees rustling.
More examples
- An old wooden churn stands beside the dairy door.
- The studio churns out several episodes each month.
- Constant staff churn makes it hard to maintain an experienced team.
Forms
churn · churns · churned · churning
Similar words
- stir
- Stir can be gentle; churn implies vigorous or continual agitation.