Stirring or mixing something vigorously, or when something moves in a violent, swirling way; also, producing butter by agitating cream.
From Old English 'cyrin,' originally describing the process of making butter by agitating cream in a churn. The meaning expanded to describe any vigorous, swirling motion.
Churning is such an old word that it started with a specific tool (the churn for making butter), but we've expanded it to describe turbulent oceans, anxious stomachs, and complicated business practices!
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