Main Entry: stim·u·late

Pronunciation: \-ˌlāt\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): stim·u·lat·ed; stim·u·lat·ing

Etymology: Latin stimulatus, past participle of stimulare, from stimulus goad; perhaps akin to Latin stilus stem, stylus — more at style

Date: 1566

transitive verb 1 : to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : animate, arouse
2 a : to function as a physiological stimulus to b : to arouse or affect by a stimulant (as a drug)intransitive verb : to act as a stimulant or stimulus

synonyms see provoke

— stim·u·la·tion \ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən\ noun

— stim·u·la·tive \ˈstim-yə-ˌlā-tiv\ adjective

— stim·u·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun

— stim·u·la·to·ry \-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective