Main Entry: stim·u·la·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən\

Function: noun

1 : the act or process of stimulating
2 : the stimulating action of various agents on muscles, nerves, or a sensory end organ by which activity is evoked ; especially : the reaction produced in a sensory end organ by a stimulus that initiates a nerve impulse and results in functional activity of an effector (as a muscle or gland) <gastric secretion induced by stimulation of the sense of smell>