verb / noun

stir

STUR/stɜːr/

To initiate or disturb movement.

The man stirs the pale batter with a wooden spoon.

An older man stirs a bowl of pale batter with a wooden spoon; curved ribbons of a darker ingredient visibly swirl through the mixture around the immersed spoon.

Etymology

Old English styrian covered movement generally and already included agitating a liquid with a rotating motion. The modern mixing sense preserves that specific use.

In context

Sugar Spun Run1:10

use a spoon, or spatula, to just fold these ingredients together, or stir them together, until all of the pecans are coated with that egg white mixture.

Candied Pecans that are Tastier AND Less Expensive

More examples

A light breeze stirs the leaves.
The baby begins to stir as the door opens.
Her unexpected announcement causes quite a stir.

Forms

stir · stirs · stirred · stirring

stirrer noun — A person or tool that stirs mixtures.

Similar words

mix: Emphasizes combining ingredients rather than simply setting them in motion.
rouse: Emphasizes waking people or prompting them to act.
commotion: Suggests noisier, more disruptive activity than a stir.