excitation

American  

[ek-sahy-tey-shuhn, -si-] / ˌɛk saɪˈteɪ ʃən, -sɪ- /

noun

1. the act of exciting.

2. the state of being excited.

3. Electricity.

   1. the application of voltage to an electric device, as an electron-tube circuit, an antenna, or a dynamotor, often for producing a magnetic field in the device.

   2. the voltage applied.

4. Physics. a process in which a molecule, atom, nucleus, or particle is excited.

5. Also called drive.  Electronics. the varying voltage applied to the control electrode of a vacuum tube.

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excitation British  

/ ˌɛksɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of exciting or state of being excited

2. a means of exciting or cause of excitement

3. 1. the current in a field coil of a generator, motor, etc, or the magnetizing current in a transformer

   2. ( as modifier )

      an excitation current

4. the action of a stimulus on an animal or plant organ, inducing it to respond

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excitation Scientific  

/ ĕk′sī-tā′shən /

1. The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or cell of the body that is caused by stimulation, especially by a nerve or neuron.

2. Compare inhibition

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Other Word Forms

• preexcitation noun
• superexcitation noun

Etymology

Origin of excitation

1350–1400; Middle English excitacioun < Late Latin excitātiōn- (stem of excitātiō ), equivalent to Latin excitāt ( us ) (past participle of excitāre; excite ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

"Every solid has its own set of frequencies: electronic transitions, lattice vibrations, magnetic excitations. Every material resonates in its own way," explains Bossini.

From Science Daily

For example, the chlorophyll pigment in D1 has an excitation state at a lower energy than its D2 counterpart, suggesting that the D1 pigment has a better chance of attracting and transferring electrons.

From Science Daily

They found that during sleep, both excitatory and inhibitory connections in the brain become weaker, but they do so asymmetrically, making inhibitory connections weaker than excitatory connections, which causes an increase in excitation.

From Science Daily

The increased excitation state of the networks caused by the genetic disorder could be restored by administering specific inhibitors of autotaxin.

From Science Daily

Many neurons in the network that are at the right level of excitation would rely on this current to spontaneously spike.

From Science Daily