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excitation
noun
ex·ci·ta·tion
ˌek-ˌsī-ˈtā-shən
ˌek-sə-
: excitement
especially
: the disturbed or altered condition resulting from stimulation of an individual, organ, tissue, or cell
Examples of excitation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So the brain generates information through excitation, but is tuned and becomes functional through inhibition.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 23 May 2024
And so the great balancing act within the brain is usually managed mostly by the interplay of GABA for inhibition and glutamate for excitation.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 23 May 2024
And if the atom is currently interacting with another, this excitation frequency shifts slightly so that the electron won’t resonate with the light and won’t be able to make the jump.
—Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
What captivated him then were chameleons—reptiles that change color for camouflage or to indicate excitation, rivalry, or submission.
—Rebecca Giggs, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024
One such topological excitation, called a skyrmion, has been observed in multiple materials.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Dec. 2023
Recall that electrons and holes—the charge carriers in a semiconductor—normally exist in a minute quantity in an undoped semiconductor, as a result of thermal excitation at room temperature.
—Sid Assawaworrarit, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2023
Unfortunately, hydrophobia is a later symptom of rabies, occurring during what’s known as the excitation phase, which is followed by the inevitably fatal paralytic phase.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2023
With pulses that short, observers can harness a free-electron laser to see individual atoms in motion, molecules making and breaking bonds, and even electron orbitals in excitation.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'excitation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of excitation was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near excitation
Cite this Entry
“Excitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excitation. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
excitation
noun
ex·ci·ta·tion
ˌek-ˌsī-ˈtā-shən
ˌek-sə-
: excitement sense 1
especially
: the activity or change in condition resulting from stimulation of an individual, organ, tissue, or cell
Medical Definition
excitation
noun
ex·ci·ta·tion
ˌek-ˌsī-ˈtā-shən
ˌek-sə-
: excitement: as
a
: the disturbed or altered condition resulting from arousal of activity (as by neural or electrical stimulation) in an individual organ or tissue
b
: the arousing of such activity
More from Merriam-Webster on excitation
Nglish: Translation of excitation for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about excitation
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