plural churns
Definition of churn
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a container in which cream is stirred or shaken to make butter
2
: a regular, quantifiable process or rate of change that occurs in a business over a period of time as existing customers are lost and new customers are added
The biggest problem they face is churn. Wireless providers lose an average of about 30% of their customers a year to competitors.— Brian O'Reilly
also
: a similar process or rate of change involving loss and addition of employees, companies, etc.
The resulting employment churn—the average job tenure is now two years, and today's typical 32-year-old has held nine different jobs—means more risks as well as more opportunities to discover new paths. — Jamais Cascio
churn
verb
churned; churning; churns
Definition of churn (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to agitate (milk or cream) in a churn in order to make butter
The farmer churns his cream every day.
2a
: to stir or agitate violently
an old stern-wheeler churning the muddy river larger particles pound and churn the Moon's surface— E. M. Shoemaker
b
: to make (something, such as foam) by so doing
3
of a stockbroker or brokerage
: to make (the account of a client) excessively active by frequent purchases and sales primarily in order to generate commissions
unscrupulous brokers may churn an account, trading frequently to generate high commissions— Mary Rowland
1
: to work a churn (as in making butter)
2a
: to produce, proceed with, or experience violent motion or agitation
her stomach was churning churning legs
b
: to proceed by or as if by means of rotating members (such as wheels or propellers)
boats churning across the harbor
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Time Traveler for churn
The first known use of churn was before the 12th century
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