Dictionary Definition

churn n : a vessel in which cream is agitated to separate butterfat from buttermilk [syn: butter churn]

1 stir (cream) vigorously in order to make butter

2 be agitated; "the sea was churning in the storm" [syn: boil, moil, roil]

User Contributed Dictionary

To agitate rapidly and repetitively, or to stir with a rowing or rocking motion; generally applies to liquids, notably cream.

Now the cream is churned to make butter.
In the context of "transitive|figuratively": To produce excessive and sometimes undesirable or unproductive activity or motion.
To move rapidly and repetitively with a rocking motion; to tumble, mix or shake.

I was so nervous my stomach was churning.

agitate rapidly

figuratively: produce excessive motion

tumble

A vessel used for churning.

a butter churn
In the context of "telecommunications": The time when a consumer switches his/her service provider.
In the context of "telecommunications": The mass of people who are ready to switch carriers, expressed by the formula Customer Quits/Customer base.

vessel for churning

time when customer switches provider

people ready to switch carrier

Churn or churning may refer to:

Butter churn, a device used for churning butter.
- Churning (butter), the process of creating butter out of milk or cream.
River Churn, a river running through Gloucestershire.
Churn rate, the average number of customers that leave a subscription service during a year.
Churn (album), a 1993 music album by New Zealand rock band Shihad.
Churn (Seven Mary Three album), a 1994 rock album by Seven Mary Three.
Churning (stock trade), the excessive buying and selling of stocks by a trader such as a broker to generate large commission fees.