Stir vs. Mix — What's the Difference?
Stir involves a gentle or circular movement to combine substances, while mix involves combining two or more substances thoroughly to become more uniform or united.
Difference Between Stir and Mix
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Stir is a culinary and general term that entails the gentle movement of a substance, usually in a circular motion. Mix, however, conveys a stronger action, ensuring that two or more ingredients are thoroughly combined and often indistinguishable from each other.
When you stir ingredients, you are engaging in a light, circular motion, often not altering the individual components' identities. In contrast, when you mix items, your goal is often to combine them into a single, uniform entity, frequently altering their original form or appearance.
Stirring is typically a gentler action that is designed to keep components somewhat distinct, and it can also mean to agitate or cause movement in a general sense. Mixing, however, generally implies a more vigorous and thorough integration of the elements involved, seeking homogeneity.
A stir might be slow and methodical, intended to move ingredients around without combining them completely. Whereas to mix involves intentional, often vigorous movement, meant to thoroughly combine ingredients, often changing their individual states into one unified form.
Stirring something lightly maintains the integrity of the individual ingredients, creating a mixture where the distinct elements can typically still be identified. Mixing, alternatively, often involves combining ingredients to the point where they become a uniform substance, each element indistinguishable from the whole.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
Gentle movement to combine
Thoroughly combining substances
Intensity
Generally gentle and light
Can be gentle or vigorous
Purpose
To move or slightly combine
To thoroughly unite or blend
Alteration of State
Usually maintains original state
Often creates a new, uniform substance
Usage Context
Culinary and general context
Predominantly culinary
Compare with Definitions
Stir
Move gently in a circular motion
Stir the soup to prevent it from sticking.
Mix
Combine to form a mass
Mix the flour and water to form a dough.
Stir
Awaken or incite feelings
His speech began to stir the crowd.
Mix
Combine different qualities
The movie was a mix of comedy and drama.
Stir
Awaken from sleep
She began to stir in her sleep.
Mix
To combine or blend into one mass or mixture
Mix the dry ingredients first.
Stir
Move a spoon or other implement round in (a liquid or other substance) in order to mix it thoroughly
Pour in the cream and stir well
Desmond stirred his tea and ate a biscuit
Mix
To create or form by combining ingredients
Mix a drink.
Mix cement.
Stir
Move or cause to move slightly
Nothing stirred except the wind
A gentle breeze stirred the leaves
Cloudiness is caused by the fish stirring up mud
Mix
To add (an ingredient or element) to another
Mix an egg into batter.
Stir
Arouse strong feeling in (someone); move or excite
He stirred up the sweating crowd
They will be stirred to action by what is written
Mix
To combine or join
Mix joy with sorrow.
Stir
A slight physical movement
I stood, straining eyes and ears for the faintest stir
Mix
To bring into social contact
Mix boys and girls in the classroom.
Stir
A commotion
The event caused quite a stir
Mix
To produce (an organism) by crossbreeding.
Stir
An act of stirring food or drink
He gives his Ovaltine a stir
Mix
To combine (two or more audio tracks or channels) to produce a composite audio recording.
Stir
Prison
I've spent twenty-eight years in stir
Mix
To produce (a soundtrack or recording) in this manner.
Stir
To pass an implement through (a liquid, for example), usually in circular motions, so as to mix or cool the contents
Stirred the soup before tasting it.
Mix
To become combined or blended together
Stir until the eggs mix with the flour.
Stir
To use an implement to move or rearrange the fuel in (a fire) to increase light or heat.
Mix
To be capable of being blended together
Oil does not mix with water.
Stir
To add or mix in (an ingredient, for example) into a liquid or mixture by moving an implement
Stirred a cup of sugar into the cake batter.
Mix
To associate socially or get along with others
He does not mix well at parties.
Stir
To mix together the ingredients of (a liquid, for example) before cooking or use by moving an implement
Stirred up some popover batter.
Stirred the paint.
Mix
To mate so as to produce a hybrid; crossbreed.
Stir
To move or pass (an implement) through a liquid in order to mix or cool the contents
Stirred her spoon in her coffee.
Mix
To become involved
In the case of a family argument, a friend should not mix in.
Stir
To cause to move or shift, especially slightly or with irregular motion
A breeze stirred the branches.
Mix
A combination of diverse elements
The downtown has a good mix of stores and restaurants.
Stir
To cause to become active; bestir
Stirred themselves to fix breakfast.
Mix
A mixture of ingredients packaged and sold commercially
A cake mix.
Stir
To excite strong feelings in or rouse, as from indifference
The speaker stirred us to volunteer at the homeless shelter.
Mix
A recording that is produced by combining and adjusting two or more audio tracks or channels.
Stir
To provoke deliberately; incite. Often used with up
Stir up trouble.
Mix
An animal resulting from interbreeding, especially a dog or cat of mixed breed.
Stir
To change position slightly
The leaves were stirring in the breeze.
Mix
(transitive) To stir together.
Mix the eggs and milk with the flour until the consistency is smooth.
Stir
To start to move, especially in rising from sleep
The house was quiet, as no one had stirred yet.
Mix
(transitive) To combine (items from two or more sources normally kept separate).
To mix business with pleasure
Don't mix the meat recipes with the dairy recipes.
Stir
To move about actively or busily
People were stirring about the office.
Mix
(ambitransitive) To form by mingling; to produce by the stirring together of ingredients; to concoct from different parts.
Yellow and blue paint mix to make green.
Stir
To move away from a customary or usual place or position
Instructed the guards not to stir from their posts.
Mix
(transitive) To blend by the use of a mixer machine.
Mix the egg whites until they are stiff.
Stir
To stir or mix a liquid or mixture
Stood at the counter stirring.
Mix
To combine (several tracks).
I'll mix the rhythm tracks down to a single track.
Stir
To be capable of being stirred
A mixture that stirs easily.
Mix
To produce a finished version of (a recording).
I'm almost done mixing this song.
Stir
To happen or begin
When the civil rights movement first stirred.
Mix
(ambitransitive) To unite with in company; to join; to associate.
Stir
To be roused or affected by strong feelings
"His wrath so stirred within him, that he could have struck him dead" (Charles Dickens).
Mix
The result of mixing two or more substances; a mixture.
Now add the raisins to the mix.
Stir
A stirring, mixing, or poking movement
Gave the fire a stir.
Mix
The result of combining items normally kept separate.
My recipe file was now a mix of meat and dairy.
The combination of classical music and hip hop is a surprisingly good mix.
Stir
A slight movement
Slept soundly and barely made a stir.
Mix
(music) The result of mixing several tracks.
The rhythm mix sounds muddy.
Stir
An excited reaction or commotion
The news caused quite a stir in our family.
Mix
(music) The finished version of a recording.
I've almost finished the mix for this song.
Stir
Prison.
Mix
A substance used to dilute or adulterate an illicit drug.
Stir
(transitive) To disturb the relative position of the particles of (a liquid or similar) by passing an object through it.
She stirred the pudding with a spoon.
He stirred his coffee so the sugar wouldn't stay at the bottom.
Mix
To cause a promiscuous interpenetration of the parts of, as of two or more substances with each other, or of one substance with others; to unite or blend into one mass or compound, as by stirring together; to mingle; to blend; as, to mix flour and salt; to mix wines.
Fair persuasions mixed with sugared words.
Stir
(transitive) To disturb the content of (a container) by passing an object through it.
Would you please stir this pot so that the chocolate doesn't burn?
Mix
To unite with in company; to join; to associate.
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people.
Stir
(transitive) To incite to action.
Mix
To form by mingling; to produce by the stirring together of ingredients; to compound of different parts.
Hast thou no poison mixed?
I have chosen an argument mixed of religious and civil considerations.
Stir
(transitive) To bring into debate; to agitate.
Mix
To combine (two or more activities) within a specified or implied time frame; as, to mix studying and partying while at college.
Stir
To disturb, to disrupt.
Mix
To become united into a compound; to be blended promiscuously together.
Stir
To change the place of in any manner; to move.
Mix
To associate; to mingle; as, Democrats and Republicans mixed freely at the party.
He had mixedAgain in fancied safety with his kind.
Stir
(intransitive) To begin to move, especially gently, from a still or unmoving position.
Mix
A commercially prepared mixture of dry ingredients
Stir
(intransitive) Of a feeling or emotion: to rise, begin to be felt.
Mix
An event that combines things in a mixture;
A gradual mixture of cultures
Stir
(intransitive) To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy oneself.
Mix
The act of mixing together;
Paste made by a mix of flour and water
The mixing of sound channels in the recording studio
Stir
(intransitive) To rise from sleep or unconsciousness.
Mix
Mix together different elements;
The colors blend well
Stir
The act or result of stirring (moving around the particles of a liquid etc.)
Can you give the soup a little stir?
Mix
Open (a place) to members of all races and ethnic groups;
This school is completely desegregated
Stir
Agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
Mix
To bring or combine together or with something else;
Resourcefully he mingled music and dance
Stir
Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
Mix
As of electronic signals;
Mixing sounds
Stir
Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.
Mix
Add as an additional element or part;
Mix water into the drink
Stir
(slang) Jail; prison.
He's going to be spending maybe ten years in stir.
Mix
Mix so as to make a random order or arrangement;
Shuffle the cards
Stir
To change the place of in any manner; to move.
My foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir.
Mix
Blend into a single entity
Mix the colors to get a new shade.
Stir
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.
Mix
Form by mixing elements
He managed to mix a cure for his experiment.
Stir
To bring into debate; to agitate; to moot.
Stir not questions of jurisdiction.
Mix
Be capable of mutual combination
Oil does not mix with water.
Stir
To incite to action; to arouse; to instigate; to prompt; to excite.
An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife.
And for her sake some mutiny will stir.
Stir
To move; to change one's position.
I had not power to stir or strive,But felt that I was still alive.
Stir
To be in motion; to be active or bustling; to exert or busy one's self.
All are not fit with them to stir and toil.
The friends of the unfortunate exile, far from resenting his unjust suspicions, were stirring anxiously in his behalf.
Stir
To become the object of notice; to be on foot.
They fancy they have a right to talk freely upon everything that stirs or appears.
Stir
To rise, or be up, in the morning.
Stir
The act or result of stirring; agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements.
Why all these words, this clamor, and this stir?
Consider, after so much stir about genus and species, how few words we have yet settled definitions of.
Stir
Public disturbance or commotion; tumultuous disorder; seditious uproar.
Being advertised of some stirs raised by his unnatural sons in England.
Stir
Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.
Stir
A disorderly outburst or tumult;
They were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused
Stir
Emotional agitation and excitement
Stir
A rapid bustling commotion
Stir
Move an implement through with a circular motion;
Stir the soup
Stir my drink
Stir
Move very slightly;
He shifted in his seat
Stir
Stir feelings in;
Stimulate my appetite
Excite the audience
Stir emotions
Stir
Stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of;
These stories shook the community
The civil war shook the country
Stir
Affect emotionally;
A stirring movie
I was touched by your kind letter of sympathy
Stir
Evoke or call forth, with or as if by magic;
Raise the specter of unemployment
He conjured wild birds in the air
Stir a disturbance
Call down the spirits from the mountain
Stir
To begin moving,
As the thunder started the sleeping children began to stir
Stir
Mix or add by stirring;
Stir nuts into the dough
Stir
Slightly mix ingredients
Stir the sugar into the tea.
Stir
Cause a slight disturbance
A breeze began to stir the leaves.
Common Curiosities
Can mixing be done gently?
Yes, you can mix things gently, but mixing generally implies a thorough combining of elements.
Is stir always a gentle action?
Stir typically implies a gentler action, though it can be used in varied contexts not always culinary.
Is mix always about combining physical substances?
No, mix can also refer to abstract elements, like mixing genres or styles.
Can stir be used metaphorically?
Yes, stir can metaphorically imply inciting or arousing, e.g., stirring emotions.
Does stirring always combine ingredients?
Not always, sometimes stirring is to prevent stagnation or to move slightly.
Does mixing always produce a uniform result?
Typically, yes, but depending on the elements and method, it may vary.
Can you stir without changing substance states?
Yes, stirring often maintains the original states of the substances involved.
Is mix used in emotional contexts?
Less commonly, mix usually refers to tangible or conceptual blending, not emotions.
Does a stir always involve circular motion?
Often, but not always, stir implies circular movement but can refer to general agitation too.
Can you mix without a tool?
Typically, mixing involves using a tool or method, but it's context-dependent.
Does stirring imply careful movement?
Often yes, stirring usually implies intentional, often gentle movement.
Can you stir with different motions?
Yes, while stirring often implies circular motion, the precise method can vary.
Can stir mean to awaken?
Yes, stir can mean causing something to wake or become active.
Can you mix without altering component states?
Mixing often but not always alters the original states of the components.
Can you mix without creating a new substance?
Yes, the result of mixing depends on the components and method used.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Veil vs. Vail
Next Comparison
Praxis vs. Practice
