2 PHRASAL VERB If you stir up a particular mood or situation, usually a bad one, you cause it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P n] As usual, Harriet is trying to stir up trouble. □ [V n P ] I thought at first that Jay had been stirring things up. SYNONYMS stir VERB 1
mix: Mix the ingredients together slowly.
blend: Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth cream.
whisk: In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar and the yolks.
beat: Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken. COLLOCATIONS stir VERB
1
stir + adverb : constantly, continuously, well; gently, occasionally
7
stir + noun : anger, controversy, emotion, unrest; imagination, memory, soul
sti r-fry (stir-fries , stir-frying , stir-fried )
1 VERB If you stir-fry vegetables, meat, or fish, you cook small pieces of them quickly by stirring them in a small quantity of very hot oil. This method is often used in Chinese cookery. □ [V n] Stir-fry the vegetables until crisp. □ [V -ed] …stir-fried vegetables.
2 N‑COUNT A stir-fry is a Chinese dish consisting of small pieces of vegetables, meat, or fish which have been stir-fried. □ Serve the stir-fry with 'instant' noodles.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Stir-fry vegetables, meat, or fish or stir-fry dishes are cooked by the stir-fry method.
stir|rer /stɜː rə r / (stirrers ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a stirrer , you disapprove of them because they often try to cause trouble. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
stir|ring /stɜː r I ŋ/ (stirrings )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A stirring event, performance, or account of something makes people very excited or enthusiastic. □ The Prime Minister made a stirring speech. □ Stowe gives a stirring performance as a strong spirited female.
2 N‑COUNT A stirring of a feeling or thought is the beginning of one. □ [+ of ] I feel a stirring of curiosity.
stir|rup /st I rəp, [AM ] stɜː r-/ (stirrups ) N‑COUNT Stirrups are the two metal loops which are attached to a horse's saddle by long pieces of leather. You place your feet in the stirrups when riding a horse.
stitch /st I tʃ/ (stitches , stitching , stitched )
1 VERB If you stitch cloth, you use a needle and thread to join two pieces together or to make a decoration. □ [V n adv/prep] Fold the fabric and stitch the two layers together. □ [V ] We stitched incessantly. □ [V n] …those patient ladies who stitched the magnificent medieval tapestries.
2 N‑COUNT Stitches are the short pieces of thread that have been sewn in a piece of cloth. □ …a row of straight stitches.
3 N‑COUNT In knitting and crochet, a stitch is a loop made by one turn of wool around a knitting needle or crochet hook. □ Her mother counted the stitches on her knitting needles.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [usu n N ] If you sew or knit something in a particular stitch , you sew or knit in a way that produces a particular pattern. □ The design can be worked in cross stitch.
5 VERB When doctors stitch a wound, they use a special needle and thread to sew the skin together. □ [V n] Jill washed and stitched the wound. ● PHRASAL VERB Stitch up means the same as stitch . □ [V P n] Dr Armonson stitched up her wrist wounds. □ [V n P ] They've taken him off to hospital to stitch him up.
6 N‑COUNT A stitch is a piece of thread that has been used to sew the skin of a wound together. □ He had six stitches in a head wound.
7 N‑SING A stitch is a sharp pain in your side, usually caused by running or laughing a lot.
8 PHRASE If you are in stitches , you cannot stop laughing. [INFORMAL ] □ Here's a book that will have you in stitches.
▸ stitch up
1 PHRASAL VERB To stitch someone up means to trick them so that they are put in a difficult or unpleasant situation, especially one where they are blamed for something they have not done. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V n P ] He claimed that a police officer had threatened to stitch him up and send him to prison. [Also V P n]
2 PHRASAL VERB To stitch up an agreement, especially a complicated agreement between several people, means to arrange it. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] Shiraz has stitched up major deals all over the world to boost sales.
3 → see stitch 5
stitch|ing /st I tʃ I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Stitching is a row of stitches that have been sewn in a piece of cloth. □ The stitching had begun to fray at the edges.
sti tch-up (stitch-ups ) also stitch up N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe a situation as a stitch-up , you mean that it has been arranged in a way that makes it unfair. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ My view is that this is a stitch up.
stoat /stoʊ t/ (stoats ) N‑COUNT A stoat is a small, thin, wild animal that has brown fur. Some stoats that live in northern Europe have fur that turns white in winter.
stock ◆◆◇ /stɒ k/ (stocks , stocking , stocked )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Stocks are shares in the ownership of a company, or investments on which a fixed amount of interest will be paid. [BUSINESS ] □ …the buying and selling of stocks and shares.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] A company's stock is the amount of money which the company has through selling shares. [BUSINESS ] □ The stock was valued in the market at $460 million.