Pronunciation: - ˌ l ā t
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -lat · ed ; -lat · ing
Etymology: Latin stimulatus, past participle of stimulare, from stimulus goad; perhaps akin to Latin stilus stem, stylus ― more at STYLE
Date: 1566
transitive verb
1 : to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : ANIMATE , AROUSE
2 a : to function as a physiological stimulus to b : to arouse or affect by a stimulant (as a drug)
intransitive verb : to act as a stimulant or stimulus
synonyms see PROVOKE
– stim · u · la · tion \ ˌ stim-y ə - ' l ā -sh ə n \ noun
– stim · u · la · tive \ ' stim-y ə - ˌ l ā -tiv \ adjective
– stim · u · la · tor \ - ˌ l ā -t ə r \ noun
– stim · u · la · to · ry \ -l ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective