Agitate - English meaning

noun

An anxious awareness of danger.

Usage examples:

The boat tilted and the boatmen cried out in alarm

verb

Make (someone) feel frightened, disturbed, or in danger.

noun

Sudden anxiety and fear, esp. that something very bad or dangerous might happen

Usage examples:

Nicholas detected a note of alarm in her voice., firefighters said the tragedy could have been avoi…

verb

Give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view.

Usage examples:

Sociologists argue that inequalities in industrial societies are being reduced

verb

To disagree esp. strongly and sometimes angrily in talking or discussing something

Usage examples:

They argued about money., i can’t argue with you about that (= i agree with you)., [ i ] they argue…

verb

To speak angrily to someone, telling that person that you disagree with them

Usage examples:

Argue over they were arguing over which film to go and see., the children are always arguing., argu…

noun

A sustained fight between large organized armed forces.

Usage examples:

The battle lasted for several hours

verb

Struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something.

Usage examples:

He has been battling against the illness

noun

A fight between armed forces

Usage examples:

The battle of the somme, her only brother was killed in battle (= while fighting).

verb

Strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip.

Usage examples:

If we were caught we were beaten

noun

A main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry.

Usage examples:

The glissando begins on the second beat

adjective

Short for beatnik.

verb

Mix (a substance) with another substance so that they combine together.

Usage examples:

Blend the cornflour with a tablespoon of water

noun

A mixture of different substances or other things.

Usage examples:

The chutney is a blend of bananas, raisins, and ginger

noun

Mix together different elements

verb

Take the trouble to do something.

Usage examples:

Scientists rarely bother with such niceties

noun

Effort, trouble, or difficulty.

Usage examples:

He saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech

exclamation

Used to express mild irritation or impatience.

Usage examples:

‘bother!’ she muttered

noun

An organized course of action to achieve a goal.

Usage examples:

The campaign for a full inquiry into the regime

verb

Work in an organized and active way towards a particular goal, typically a political or social one.

Usage examples:

People who campaigned against child labour

noun

A planned group of especially political, business, or military activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim

Usage examples:

The protests were part of their campaign against the proposed building development in the area., th…

noun

A machine for making butter by shaking milk or cream.

Usage examples:

Mothers made butter from milk, they mixed the milk in a butter churn.

verb

Short for churn rate.

verb

To move violently

Usage examples:

[ i ] the water was churning and the boat was rocking., [ m ] the fish churned up the water when we…

verb

Relate to; be about.

Usage examples:

The story concerns a friend of mine

noun

Anxiety; worry.

Usage examples:

Carole gazed at her with concern

verb

To trouble someone with feelings of anxiety; worry

Usage examples:

The loss didn’t bother him, but his team’s confidence concerns him., this is an issue that should c…

noun

Each of a series of medieval military expeditions made by europeans to recover the holy land from the muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.

Usage examples:

The fanaticism engendered by the crusades

verb

Lead or take part in a vigorous campaign for social, political, or religious change.

Usage examples:

He crusaded against gambling in the 1950s

noun

A long and determined attempt to achieve something you strongly believe in

Usage examples:

She’s involved in the crusade for racial equality., he crusaded tirelessly for civil rights., a cru…

noun

A formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote.

Usage examples:

Last night's debate on the education bill

verb

Argue about (a subject), especially in a formal manner.

Usage examples:

Mps debated the issue in the commons

noun

A discussion, esp. one in which several people with different opinions about something discuss them seriously, or the process of discussing something

Usage examples:

[ u ] education is always a topic of interest and public debate., [ i ] congress debated for severa…

verb

Disturb the composure of; unsettle.

Usage examples:

The abrupt change of subject disconcerted her

verb

To make someone feel suddenly uncertain or worried

Usage examples:

He was disconcerted by all the attention he was getting., so this deliberate lack of interest in no…

verb

To make someone feel suddenly uncertain and worried

Usage examples:

The whole experience had disconcerted him.

noun

A disagreement or argument.

Usage examples:

A territorial dispute between the two countries

verb

Argue about (something).

Usage examples:

The point has been much disputed

noun

An argument or disagreement

Usage examples:

[ c ] management and the union are trying to resolve the dispute over working conditions., her skil…

noun

A feeling of worry or unease.

Usage examples:

Public disquiet about animal testing

verb

Make (someone) worried or uneasy.

Usage examples:

World leaders are surely disquieted by the prospect of a global economic meltdown

noun

Worry

Usage examples:

The leader's decline in popularity is causing disquiet among supporters.

noun

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Usage examples:

To his distress he saw that she was trembling

verb

Another term for distraint.

noun

Great mental or physical suffering, such as extreme anxiety, sadness, or pain, or the state of being in danger or urgent need

Usage examples:

Emotional/financial distress, four men were rescued from a fishing boat in distress off the coast.,…

verb

Interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of.

Usage examples:

Take the rollers out carefully so as not to disturb the curls too much

verb

To cause someone to stop what the person is doing, or to interrupt an activity

Usage examples:

Please don’t disturb jimmy – he’s trying to do his homework., this year’s election campaign has dis…

verb

To interrupt what someone is doing

Usage examples:

Please don't disturb your sister - she's trying to do her homework., i'm sorry to disturb you so la…

verb

Take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons.

Usage examples:

The men were fighting

noun

A violent confrontation or struggle.

Usage examples:

He'd got into a fight with some bouncers outside a club

verb

Be engaged in a contest or struggle

noun

A small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind.

Usage examples:

A flurry of snow

verb

(especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind.

Usage examples:

Gusts of snow flurried through the door

noun

A sudden light fall of snow, blown in different directions by the wind

Usage examples:

Heavy snow will be tapering off to flurries in the morning., there was a flurry of excitement as th…

verb

Make (someone) agitated or confused.

Usage examples:

There's nothing you can do or say to fluster bernie

noun

An agitated or confused state.

Usage examples:

The main thing is not to get all in a fluster

verb

To make someone nervous or upset, esp. when the person is trying to do something

Usage examples:

Don’t let that new tax form fluster you – it’s not as bad as it looks., if i look flustered it’s be…

verb

Bend (something flexible and relatively flat) over on itself so that one part of it covers another.

Usage examples:

Sam folded up the map

noun

A form or shape produced by the gentle draping of a loose, full garment or piece of cloth.

Usage examples:

The fabric fell in soft folds

verb

Shut (livestock) in a fold.

verb

Encourage or stir up (violent or unlawful behaviour).

Usage examples:

They conspired to incite riots

verb

To encourage someone to do or feel something unpleasant or violent

Usage examples:

She incited racial hatred by distributing anti-semitic leaflets., [ + to infinitive ] she was expel…

verb

Provoke or intensify (strong feelings, especially anger) in someone.

Usage examples:

High fines further inflamed public feelings

verb

To excite someone’s strong feelings or make them stronger

Usage examples:

The defense objected to the graphic pictures, claiming they were meant merely to inflame the jury.

verb

To cause or increase very strong feelings such as anger or excitement

Usage examples:

Reducing the number of staff is certain to inflame the already angry medical profession., inflame p…

verb

Push or shake (someone or something) abruptly and roughly.

Usage examples:

A surge in the crowd behind him jolted him forwards

noun

An abrupt rough or violent movement.

Usage examples:

He felt a jolt when the plane started to climb

verb

Move or cause to move with a sudden jerky motion

verb

Make (someone) anxious or unsettled.

Usage examples:

They were perturbed by her capricious behaviour

verb

Move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.

Usage examples:

He pressed his face to the glass

noun

A device for applying pressure to something in order to flatten or shape it or to extract juice or oil.

Usage examples:

A flower press

noun

A forcible enlistment of men, especially for the navy.

Usage examples:

Any english-speaking, able-bodied, man on leave in a port might find himself swept up in the press.

verb

Stimulate or give rise to (a reaction or emotion, typically a strong or unwelcome one) in someone.

Usage examples:

The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations

verb

Provide the needed stimulus for

verb

To try to make a person or an animal angry or annoyed

Usage examples:

He was trying to provoke me into a fight., i’m trying to make people think, provoke their emotions.…

verb

Exert force on (someone or something) in order to move them away from oneself.

Usage examples:

She pushed her glass towards him

noun

An act of pushing someone or something in order to move them away from oneself.

Usage examples:

He closed the door with a push

verb

Move with force, "he pushed the table into a corner"

verb

Make (a liquid) turbid or muddy by disturbing the sediment.

Usage examples:

Winds roil these waters

verb

To (cause to) move quickly in a twisting circular movement

Usage examples:

Fierce winds roiled the sea., a massive tower of smoke roiled skyward., fears about japan roiled wo…

verb

Disorder or disarrange (someone's hair), typically by running one's hands through it.

Usage examples:

The father laughs and jovially ruffles his son's hair

noun

A strip of lace or other material, gathered along one edge to make an ornamental frill on a garment or other piece of fabric.

Usage examples:

The garment is often trimmed with lace, ruffles, bows and ribbons, optionally with spaghetti straps.

verb

To make someone upset or nervous or reduce someone’s confidence

Usage examples:

[ t ] it ruffled her composure, and she did not know how to respond., a sudden, strong breeze ruffl…

verb

(of a structure or area of land) tremble or vibrate.

Usage examples:

Buildings shook in sacramento and tremors were felt in reno

noun

An act of shaking.

Usage examples:

She gave her red curls a shake

verb

Move or cause to move back and forth

verb

Move a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly.

Usage examples:

Desmond stirred his tea and ate a biscuit

noun

A slight physical movement.

Usage examples:

I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir

noun

Prison.

Usage examples:

I've spent twenty-eight years in stir

verb

Make great efforts to achieve or obtain something.

Usage examples:

National movements were striving for independence

verb

To try hard to do something or make something happen, esp. for a long time or against difficulties

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] neither jefferson nor madison was a pacifist, though both strove to keep americ…

verb

Make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction.

Usage examples:

Before she could struggle, he lifted her up

noun

A forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or resist attack.

Usage examples:

There were signs of a struggle and there was a lot of blood around

verb

To work hard to do something

Usage examples:

We watched boys on skateboards struggle to keep their balance., he struggled with his cousin, and h…

verb

Throw (something) somewhere lightly or casually.

Usage examples:

Suzy tossed her bag on to the sofa

noun

An act or instance of tossing something.

Usage examples:

A defiant toss of her head

verb

Throw with a light motion

noun

Difficulty or problems.

Usage examples:

I had trouble finding somewhere to park

verb

Cause distress or anxiety to.

Usage examples:

He was not troubled by doubts

noun

A problem, or difficulties

Usage examples:

[ u ] trouble began when he came to live with us., [ c ] she thought her troubles would be over whe…

verb

Make (someone) lose courage or confidence.

Usage examples:

The journey over the bridge had unnerved me

verb

To make someone feel less confident and slightly frightened

Usage examples:

The long silence unnerved him., it’s the way that he stares that i find so unnerving.

verb

To make someone feel nervous or less confident

Usage examples:

Talk of an economic slowdown has so far failed to unnerve american markets., be unnerved by sth inv…

verb

Cause to feel anxious or uneasy; disturb.

Usage examples:

The crisis has unsettled financial markets

verb

To make someone feel anxious or slightly worried

Usage examples:

Even the most experienced batsmen were unsettled by the speed of this bowler., the legislation does…

verb

Make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Usage examples:

The accusation upset her

noun

An unexpected result or situation.

Usage examples:

The greatest upset in boxing history

adjective

Unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Usage examples:

She looked pale and upset

verb

Take or move (someone or something) somewhere suddenly and quickly.

Usage examples:

He whisked her off to paris for a few days

noun

A utensil for whipping eggs or cream.

Usage examples:

It doesn't take as long a time as you'd think to whip cream with a whisk.

noun

A mixer incorporating a coil of wires

verb

Feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems.

Usage examples:

He worried about his soldier sons in the war

noun

The state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems.

Usage examples:

He's demented with worry

verb

To think about problems or unpleasant things that make you anxious, or to make someone feel anxious

Usage examples:

[ i ] if you get a monthly train ticket, you won’t have to worry about buying a ticket every day., …

noun

A dispute or argument, typically one that is long and complicated.

Usage examples:

An insurance wrangle is holding up compensation payments

verb

Have a long, complicated dispute or argument.

Usage examples:

The bureaucrats continue wrangling over the fine print

verb

To argue, often in a noisy or angry way

Usage examples:

We have been wrangling with the management for weeks over parking spaces for employees.