Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense churns, present participle churning, past tense, past participle churned
1. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A churn is a container which is used for making butter.
2. verb
If something churns water, mud, or dust, it moves it about violently.
The propeller churned the water and the ship was away. [VERB noun]
...unsurfaced roads now churned into mud by the annual rains. [VERB-ed]
Churn up means the same as churn.
The recent rain had churned up the waterfall into a muddy whirlpool. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Occasionally they slap the water with their tails or churn it up in play. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
...muddy, churned-up ground. [VERB-ed PARTICLE]
3. verb
If you say that your stomach is churning, you mean that you feel sick. You can also say that something churns your stomach.
My stomach churned as I stood up. [VERB]
The symptoms of anxiety - sweating, churning stomach - are similar to those of excitement. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB noun]
Phrasal verbs:
See churn out
See churn up
More Synonyms of churn
churn in British English
(tʃɜːn)
noun
1. British
a large container for milk
2.
a vessel or machine in which cream or whole milk is vigorously agitated to produce butter
3.
any similar device
4.
the number of customers who switch from one supplier to another
verb
5.
a.
to stir or agitate (milk or cream) in order to make butter
b.
to make (butter) by this process
6. (sometimes foll by up)
to move or cause to move with agitation
ideas churned in his head
7.
(of a bank, broker, etc) to encourage an investor or policyholder to change investments, endowment policies, etc, to increase commissions at the client's expense
8.
(of a government) to pay benefits to a wide category of people and claw it back by taxation from the well off
9.
to promote the turnover of existing subscribers leasing, and new subscribers joining, a cable television system or mobile phone company
Derived forms
churner (ˈchurner)
noun
Word origin
Old English ciern; related to Old Norse kjarni, Middle Low German kerne churn, German dialect Kern cream
churn in American English
(tʃɜrn)
noun
1.
a container or contrivance in which milk or cream is beaten, stirred, or shaken to form butter
2. US
the occurrence, ratio, or amount of turnover of investments, customers, commodities, etc.
verb transitive
3.
to stir, beat, or shake (milk or cream) in a churn
4.
to make (butter) in a churn
5.
to stir up vigorously
6.
to produce (foam, etc.) by stirring vigorously
7. US
to cause a rapid turnover of (a client's investments) so that the broker can claim commissions
verb intransitive
8.
to use a churn in making butter
9.
to move or stir as if in a churn
many ideas churning in his brain
Idioms:
churn out
Word origin
ME chirne < OE cyrne; akin to cyrnel, kernel: with ref. to grainy appearance of churned cream
churn in Insurance
(tʃɜrn)
Word forms: (present) churns, (past) churned, (perfect) churned, (progressive) churning
verb
(Insurance: Sales and distribution)
If a bank or broker churns a contract or policyholder, they encourage a client to change investments or policies in order to increase commissions at the client'sexpense.
There was no evidence that contracts were fraudulent or had been deliberately churned by brokers in order to earn commission.
An agent should not engage in churning client policies, simply so that they can earn a new commission.
If a bank or broker churns a contract or policyholder, they encourage a client to change investments or policiesin order to increase commissions at the client's expense.
Examples of 'churn' in a sentence
churn
Other choices were a popcorn maker and a free vending machine to churn out snacks.
The Sun (2016)
My head is spinning, my stomach is churning.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
After the ice cream has finished churning, fold in the strawberry chunks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He could clearly be seen in the distance by British soldiers each morning, bringing a small milk churn up to the enemy line.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The first step is to fill a butter churn with cream.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet the spine will tingle and the stomach churn as it did before.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The rumour mill is already churning away.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until thick and creamy.
The Sun (2012)
This involves a machine that churns out up to half a ton of ice a day.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Women carry milk churns on their heads.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Scoop the churned ice cream into a container and keep in the freezer until ready to serve.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That will be better than churning butter.
Frederick Marryat The Children of the New Forest (1847)
The sites he has trawled make my stomach churn.
The Sun (2011)
Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until thick.
The Sun (2012)
My stomach was churning the last couple of miles watching him.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Pour into an ice cream maker and churn until thick.
The Sun (2012)
Each day began when churns of milk were dropped outside the dairy at about five in the morning.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It provides a timely reminder that the factory can do more than churn out small numbers of bespoke military helicopters.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He's still churning out gutsy performances and doing the business.
The Sun (2008)
At its peak the company churned out 12-13 billion feet of film a year.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We wouldn't be looking to churn a huge number of players as that can be destabilising.
The Sun (2014)
Tip into an ice-cream machine and churn until frozen.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Just before you churn the ice cream, whisk in the cream.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
That is the theory, and the way the models churn out the numbers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Since its founding in 1986, the company has churned out protective coverings for electronic equipment on yachts.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
churn
British English: churn NOUN
A churn is a container which is used for making butter.
American English: churn
Brazilian Portuguese: batedeira
Chinese: > 搅乳器制黄油的
European Spanish: mantequera
French: baratte
German: Butterfass
Italian: zangola
Japanese: かくはん器
Korean: 버터를 만드는 통
European Portuguese: batedeira
Latin American Spanish: mantequera
British English: churn VERB
water If something churns water, mud, or dust, it moves it about violently.
...dirt roads now churned into mud by the annual rains.
American English: churn
Brazilian Portuguese: bater
Chinese: > 搅制黄油的
European Spanish: agitar
French: faire tournoyerN
German: aufwühlen
Italian: agitare
Japanese: 激しくかき回す
Korean: 마구 휘돌다
European Portuguese: bater
Latin American Spanish: agitar
British English: churn VERB
stomach If you say that your stomach is churning, you mean that you feel sick.