/ əˈraʊz; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to make sb have a particular feeling or attitude :
to arouse sb's interest / curiosity / anger
Her strange behaviour aroused our suspicions.
2.
to make sb feel sexually excited
SYN excite
3.
to make you feel more active and want to start doing sth :
The whole community was aroused by the crime.
4.
arouse sb (from sth) ( formal ) to wake sb from sleep
—see also rouse
► arousal / əˈraʊzl; NAmE / noun [ U ]:
emotional / sexual arousal
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from rouse , on the pattern of the pair of rise , arise .