agitate

Agitate is a verb with several related senses centered on movement, stirring, or stimulation. In its literal sense, to agitate means to move or shake something briskly, especially a liquid, to mix or dissolve substances. Agitation speeds contact between ingredients or phases and is common in cooking, chemistry, and laboratory work.

Figuratively, agitate can mean to excite or arouse strong feelings or public interest. A campaign may agitate voters, a speech may agitate a crowd, or officials may seek to agitate opinion on an issue. The noun agitation refers to the act or process of stirring as well as to the resulting state of heightened concern or unrest.

Agitation can also describe a temporary state of worry or restlessness, or, in technical contexts, the intentional stirring of a substance using machinery or devices such as shakers and mixers. In science and engineering, agitation improves contact between phases and can influence reaction rates or solubility.

Etymology and usage: from Latin agitatus, from agere "to drive, do," via French or directly into English as agitate; the word appears in English from the 15th century. Related forms include agitated (adjective) and agitating (present participle).