v.
Pronunciation: ' rau ̇ z
Function: verb
Inflected Form: roused ; rous · ing
Etymology: Middle English, to shake the feathers
Date: 1531
transitive verb
1 archaic : to cause to break from cover
2 a : to stir up : EXCITE <was roused to fury> b : to arouse from or as if from sleep or repose : AWAKEN
intransitive verb
1 : to become aroused : AWAKEN
2 : to become stirred
– rouse · ment \ ' rau ̇ z-m ə nt \ noun
– rous · er noun