stim

American  

[stim] / stɪm /

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in repetitive physical movements or articulated noises, often in reaction to a mental or emotional state: especially common in young children and those with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.

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noun

1. Also called self-stimulatory behavior.  a repeated physical movement or articulated noise, ranging from full body rocking or leg bouncing to head banging and hand flapping, exhibited by many people, often in reaction to a mental or emotional state, but especially by young children and those with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.

   Some common stims like chewing your nails or twirling your hair are similar in their purpose and result to the stims of a child who sucks his thumb or flicks his fingers.

stim British  

/ stɪm /

noun

1. (used with a negative) a very small amount

   I couldn't see a stim

   she hasn't a stim of sense

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Etymology

Origin of stim

First recorded in 1980–85; by shortening of stimming ( def. )

Example Sentences

Stim was a bold bid by Prodigy, the dowdy online service started by IBM and Sears, to break into the hot, youth-oriented Web-content business.

From Time Magazine Archive

Secretary Stim son saw newsgatherers about Mrs. Gann.

From Time Magazine Archive

I'm not saying Stim could ever have grown into the New Yorker.

From Time Magazine Archive

Unfortunately, says Manhattan Gynecologist Edward Stim, who rarely prescribes the drugs, they are sometimes given on a casual, "Why not give it a try?" basis.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Weil ig kein Stim hbe: because I have no voice."

From The Unknown Guest by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander