agitate : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: agitate	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for agitate
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
agitate v try to stir up public opinion [syn: agitate, foment, stir up] cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" Synonym(s): agitate, rouse, turn on, charge, commove, excite, charge up Antonym(s): calm, calm down, lull, quiet, quieten, still, tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate" Synonym(s): crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat" Synonym(s): stir, shift, budge, agitate move or cause to move back and forth; "The chemist shook the flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking" Synonym(s): shake, agitate change the arrangement or position of Synonym(s): agitate, vex, disturb, commove, shake up, stir up, raise up
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Agitate \Ag"itate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Agitated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Agitating}.] [L. agitatus, p. p. of agitare to put in motion, fr. agere to move: cf. F. agiter. See {Act}, {Agent}.] 1. To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate* water in a vessel. [bd]Winds . . . agitate the air.[b8] --Cowper. 2. To move or actuate. [R.] --Thomson. 3. To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated. The mind of man is agitated by various passions. --Johnson. 4. To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated. --Boyle. 5. To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs. Syn: To move; shake; excite; rouse; disturb; distract; revolve; discuss; debate; canvass.