churned
churned — noun
1. a tall container, traditionally made of metal or wood, used for carrying or stor
a tall container, traditionally made of metal or wood, used for carrying or storing fresh milk; also a machine that shakes cream to turn it into butter.
A farmer in Ireland carried two full churns of fresh milk to the roadside each morning.
countable noun + of milk
Dario poured fresh cream into the wooden churn and pulled the handle until butter formed.
Nala placed the cream in an electric churn and pressed the button to start mixing.
Each morning the dairy workers filled the metal churns with fresh milk for delivery.
文法句型
a churn
milk churn
2. the rate at which customers stop using a company's product or service over a spe
the rate at which customers stop using a company's product or service over a specific period, usually measured as a percentage.
The streaming service reduced its monthly churn by introducing a student discount plan.
possessive + churn + by + gerund
Reema presented a report showing that customer churn had fallen to 3 percent this quarter.
A Japanese carrier reduced annual churn from eight to four percent by offering family discounts.
A sudden spike in churn made the board of directors demand an urgent review of customer service.
- retention
the ability to keep customers rather than lose them
文法句型
churn rate
customer churn
high/low churn
用法筆記
Often used in the compound 'churn rate' or as part of a company name ('customer churn'). This sense is uncountable in most business contexts.
常見錯誤
churned — verb
- churnedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- churneds3rd person singular
- churneding-ing form
- churnededpast simple
1. to stir, move, or mix a liquid or substance with strong, repeated force, often c
to stir, move, or mix a liquid or substance with strong, repeated force, often creating waves, foam, or clouds.
White foam churned behind the speedboat as it raced across the lake.
intransitive: foam churned + adverb of place
The washing machine churned the water and soap into a thick, bubbly foam.
transitive: churn + object + into + result
Dark clouds churned across the sky just before the thunderstorm hit the village.
Hyun watched the river churn over the rocks after three days of heavy rainfall.
- settle
to become still and calm
文法句型
churn + object
object + churn + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Subject is often water, foam, clouds, mud, or any fluid-like substance. Frequently appears in continuous form ('is churning', 'was churning').
常見錯誤
2. to shake or stir fresh cream in a special container or machine until the fat sep
to shake or stir fresh cream in a special container or machine until the fat separates and becomes butter.
Every Saturday morning, Shirin churns fresh cream into golden butter for the family breakfast.
churn + cream + into + butter
In the old days, farm families churned their own butter by hand using a wooden barrel.
Felipe watched his grandmother churn fresh cream until thick yellow butter formed.
The dairy farmer churned the fresh cream for twenty minutes until thick yellow butter appeared.
- beat
a more general term for mixing; churn implies a specific traditional tool and process for making butter
文法句型
churn + cream/milk
churn + cream + into + butter
用法筆記
When used in modern contexts, often refers to a traditional or artisanal process rather than factory production.
3. to feel an uncomfortable, sick, or rolling sensation in the stomach, typically c
to feel an uncomfortable, sick, or rolling sensation in the stomach, typically caused by nervousness, worry, or fear.
Nellie's stomach churned as she waited for the doctor to call her name.
possessive + stomach + churned: the most common pattern
Luca felt his gut churn with dread every time the plane hit a pocket of turbulence.
gut + churn + with + (emotion)
My insides churned when I saw the final exam paper and realised I was running out of time.
Brooke's stomach churned with anxiety before her first big presentation at work.
- settle
become calm again ('my stomach settled')
文法句型
stomach/insides + churn
churn + with + emotion
用法筆記
Subject is almost always a part of the digestive system (stomach, gut, insides). The cause is emotional (nervousness, fear, anxiety), not physical (food poisoning or illness).
常見錯誤
4. to repeatedly stop using one company's service and start using another, especial
to repeatedly stop using one company's service and start using another, especially for phone, internet, banking, or insurance services.
Sahil churned between three phone carriers last year to get the cheapest data plan.
churn between + providers
Young drivers under thirty churn between car insurers twice as often as older drivers do.
The bank introduced a loyalty programme to stop wealthy clients from churning to rival institutions.
Eri churned through four streaming services in one month, always looking for the best content library.
- stay
remain with the same provider
文法句型
customers + churn + between + providers
churn + from + company + to + company
用法筆記
Subject is usually customers or clients as a group or a representative individual. Frequently used in business reports and marketing analysis. 'Churn' in this sense can also be a noun (see noun sense 2).