Definition & Meaning of "churn"

to churn

VERB

to stir cream very hard until it transforms into butter

Transitive: to churn cream

Example

Before modern appliances, people used to churn cream by hand.

She churned the cream tirelessly until it thickened into butter.

Churning cream requires patience and strong arm muscles.

to experience a feeling of unease or discomfort

Intransitive

Example

The news about the accident made her stomach churn with worry.

He could feel his emotions churning as he waited for the test results.

The argument left her heart churning with frustration.

Churn

NOUN

a container, often wooden or metal, used for stirring liquids like cream to make butter

What is a "churn"?

A churn is a kitchen tool used for agitating and mixing cream or milk to make butter. Traditionally, it consists of a cylindrical container with a handle attached to a plunger or paddle mechanism inside. The cream or milk is poured into the churn, and then the handle is repeatedly turned, causing the plunger or paddle to agitate the liquid. This agitation causes the fat globules in the cream to clump together and separate from the liquid, eventually forming butter. Churns come in various sizes and designs, from simple hand-operated churns to larger, mechanized versions used in commercial dairy production.

Example

Grandma used an old wooden churn to make fresh butter from the cream.

The farmer poured the cream into the churn and began vigorously churning it.

The churn in the kitchen was a cherished family heirloom, passed down for generations.