stimulus

stim·u·lus

noun \ˈstim-yə-ləs\

plural stim·u·li\-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

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)

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

stim·u·lus

noun \ˈstim-yə-ləs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; stim·u·li \-ˌlī, -ˌlē\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation)

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>