| stir | 1. To change the place of in any manner; to move. "My foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir." (Sir W. Temple) 2. To disturb the relative position of the particles of, as of a liquid, by passing something through it; to agitate; as, to stir a pudding with a spoon. "My mind is troubled, like a fountain stirred." (Shak) 3. To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot. "Stir not questions of jurisdiction." (Bacon) 4. To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt; to excite. "To stir men to devotion." "An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife." (Shak) "And for her sake some mutiny will stir." (Dryden) In all senses except the first, stir is often followed by up with an intensive effect; as, to stir up fire; to stir up sedition. Synonym: To move, incite, awaken, rouse, animate, stimulate, excite, provoke. Origin: OE. Stiren, steren, sturen, AS. Styrian; probably akin to D. Storen to disturb, G. Storen, OHG. Storen to scatter, destroy. 166. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| Stirling's modification of Gram's stain | <technique> A stable aniline-crystal violet stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Stirling, William | <person> British histologist and physiologist, 1851-1932. See: Stirling's modification of Gram's stain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stirps | Origin: L, stem, stock. 1. Stock; race; family. 2. <botany> A race, or a fixed and permanent variety. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stirrup | 1. A kind of ring, or bent piece of metal, wood, leather, or the like, horizontal in one part for receiving the foot of a rider, and attached by a strap to the saddle, used to assist a person in mounting a horse, and to enable him to sit steadily in riding, as well as to relieve him by supporting a part of the weight of the body. "Our host upon his stirpoes stood anon." (Chaucer) 2. <machinery> Any piece resembling in shape the stirrup of a saddle, and used as a support, clamp, etc. See Bridle iron. 3. A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope. <anatomy> Stirrup bone, the stapes. Stirrup cup, a parting cup taken after mounting. Stirrup iron, an iron stirrup. Stirrup leather, or Stirrup strap, the strap which attaches a stirrup to the saddle. See Stirrup. Origin: OE. Stirop, AS. Stigrap; stigan to mount, ascend + rap a rope; akin to G. Stegreif a stirrup. 164. See Sty, and Rope. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |