stimulus

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noun stim·u·lus \ˈstim-yə-ləs\

: something that causes something else to happen, develop, or become more active

: something that causes a change or a reaction

plural stim·u·li\-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

Full Definition of STIMULUS

:  something that rouses or incites to activity: as

a :  incentive

b :  stimulant 1

c :  an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)

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Examples of STIMULUS

1. The pay raise was a stimulus for production.
2. Heat and light are physical stimuli.
3. The dog responded to the stimulus of the ringing bell.

Origin of STIMULUS

Latin

First Known Use: 1684

Related to STIMULUS

Synonyms

boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, impulse, yeast

Antonyms

counterincentive, disincentive

Related Words

inducement, invitation; antecedent, cause, consideration, grounds, motive, occasion, reason; catalyst, catalyzer, fuel, spark

Rhymes with STIMULUS

limulus

stimulus

noun stim·u·lus \ˈstim-yə-ləs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural stim·u·li \-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

Medical Definition of STIMULUS

1

:  stimulant 1

2

:  an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion) <a visual stimulus>