From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
churn
n : a vessel in which cream is agitated to separate butterfat
from buttermilk [syn: butter churn]
v 1: stir (cream) vigorously in order to make butter
2: be agitated; "the sea was churning in the storm" [syn:
boil, moil, roil]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Churn \Churn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Churned (ch[^u]rnd); p. pr.
& vb. n. Churning.] [OE. chernen, AS. cernan; akin to LG.
karnen, G. kernen, D. karnen, Dan. kierne, Sw. k[aum]rna, and
also to E. corn, kernel, the meaning coming from the idea of
extracting the kernel or marrow. See Kernel.]
1. To stir, beat, or agitate, as milk or cream in a churn, in
order to make butter.
[1913 Webster]
2. To shake or agitate with violence.
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Churned in his teeth, the foamy venom rose.
--Addison.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Churn \Churn\, v. i.
To perform the operation of churning.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Churn \Churn\ (ch[^u]rn), n. [OE. chirne, cherne, AS. ceren,
cyrin; akin to D. karn, Dan. kierne. See Churn, v. t.]
A vessel in which milk or cream is stirred, beaten, or
otherwise agitated (as by a plunging or revolving dasher) in
order to separate the oily globules from the other parts, and
obtain butter.
[1913 Webster]