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 verb1: to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : animate, arouse2 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