churn Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a vessel in which cream is agitated to separate butterfat from buttermilk
    butter churn.
  2. verb stir (cream) vigorously in order to make butter
  3. verb be agitated
    moil; roil; boil.
    • the sea was churning in the storm

WordNet

Churn noun
Etymology
OE. chirne, cherne, AS. ceren, cyrin; akin to D. karn, Dan. kierne. See Churn, v. t.
Definitions
  1. A vessel in which milk or cream is stirred, beaten, or otherwise agitated (as by a plunging or revolving dasher) in order to separete the oily globules from the other parts, and obtain butter.
Churn transitive verb
Etymology
OE. chernen, AS. cernan; akin to LG. karnen, G. kernen, D. karnen, Dan. kierne, Sw. kärna, and also to E. corn, kernel, the meaning coming from the idea of extracting the kernel or marrow. See Kernel.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Churned ; present participle & verbal noun Churning
Definitions
  1. To stir, beat, or agitate, as milk or cream in a churn, in order to make butter.
  2. To shake or agitate with violence.
    Churned in his teeth, the foamy venom rose. Addison.
Churn intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To perform the operation of churning.

Webster 1913