stimulate

[stim-yuh-leyt] /ˈstɪm yəˌleɪt/
verb (used with object), stimulated, stimulating.
1.
to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite:
to stimulate his interest in mathematics.
2.
Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
3.
to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant, as coffee, tea, or alcoholic liquor.
verb (used without object), stimulated, stimulating.
4.
to act as a stimulus or stimulant.
Origin
1540-50; < Latin stimulātus (past participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ate1
Related forms
stimulable, adjective
stimulability
[stim-yuh-luh-bil-i-tee] /ˌstɪm yə ləˈbɪl ɪ ti/ (Show IPA), noun
stimulatingly, adverb
stimulation, noun
stimulator, stimulater, noun
antistimulation, noun
hyperstimulation, noun
interstimulate, verb (used with object), interstimulated, interstimulating.
interstimulation, noun
nonstimulable, adjective
nonstimulating, adjective
nonstimulation, noun
overstimulate, verb, overstimulated, overstimulating.
overstimulation, noun
poststimulation, adjective
prestimulate, verb (used with object), prestimulated, prestimulating.
prestimulation, noun
restimulate, verb (used with object), restimulated, restimulating.
restimulation, noun
self-stimulated, adjective
self-stimulating, adjective
self-stimulation, noun
semistimulating, adjective
superstimulate, verb (used with object), superstimulated, superstimulating.
superstimulation, noun
unstimulable, adjective
unstimulated, adjective
unstimulating, adjective
unstimulatingly, adverb
Can be confused
activate, actuate, stimulate.
Synonyms
1. arouse, activate, excite. See animate.
Examples from the web for stimulate
  • His distraught family pricked the limp body of their firstborn with needles to try to stimulate a response.
  • Some good must come of it all-it must stimulate the hotel business-but it's also a blight.
  • The idea was not so much to solve the scooter's stability problem as to stimulate new ways of thinking about it.
  • The small disc also plays back parents' recorded voices to stimulate in utero learning.
  • One major challenge was to find a way to stimulate only the feed element.
  • Its new color-screen iPod can't help but stimulate interest in the device.
  • Our goal on this tenth anniversary is to stimulate personal memories.
  • Some scientists are trying to inject signaling molecules into the eye to stimulate light-collecting photoreceptor cells to regrow.
  • But while we're at it, no they don't stimulate the economy.
  • The activator also has the ability to stimulate neighboring cells to convert precursor into activator.
British Dictionary definitions for stimulate

stimulate

/ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪt/
verb
1.
(transitive; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasm: he was stimulated by the challenge
2.
(transitive) (physiol) to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
3.
to encourage (something) to start or progress further: a cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery
Derived Forms
stimulable, adjective
stimulation, noun
stimulative, adjective, noun
stimulator, stimulater, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin stimulāre; see stimulant
Word Origin and History for stimulate
v.

1610s, from Latin stimulatus, past participle of stimulare (see stimulation). Related: Stimulated; stimulating.

stimulate in Medicine

stimulate stim·u·late (stĭm'yə-lāt')
v. stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing, stim·u·lates
To arouse a body or a responsive structure to increased functional activity.

stim'u·lat'er n.