Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Agitate \Ag"i*tate\, 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. ``Winds .
      . . agitate the air.'' --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.

Source : WordNet®

agitate
     v 1: try to stir up public opinion [syn: {foment}, {stir up}]
     2: cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker
        charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" [syn:
        {rouse}, {turn on}, {charge}, {commove}, {excite}, {charge
        up}] [ant: {calm}]
     3: 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" [syn: {crusade}, {fight},
         {press}, {campaign}, {push}]
     4: move very slightly; "He shifted in his seat" [syn: {stir}, {shift},
         {budge}]
     5: move or cause to move back and forth; "The chemist shook the
        flask vigorously"; "My hands were shaking" [syn: {shake}]
     6: change the arrangement or position of [syn: {vex}, {disturb},
         {commove}, {shake up}, {stir up}, {raise up}]