1shake (milk or cream) in a machine in order to produce butter:the cream is ripened before it is churned
produce (butter) by churning milk or cream:the women were churning butter and making cheese
2(with reference to liquid) move or cause to move about vigorously: [no object]:the seas churned figurativeher stomach was churning at the thought of the ordeal [with object]:in high winds most of the loch is churned up
break up the surface of (an area of ground):the earth had been churned up where vehicles had passed through
3(of a broker) encourage frequent turnover of (investments) in order to generate commission:these brokers churn the client’s portfolio to generate an income for themselves
churn something out
produce something mechanically and in large quantities:artists continued to churn out uninteresting works
