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stimulate

[ stim-yuh-leyt ]
/ ˈstɪm yəˌleɪt /
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See synonyms for: stimulate / stimulated / stimulates / stimulating on Thesaurus.com

Definition of stimulate

verb (used with object), stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing.
to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite: to stimulate his interest in mathematics.
Physiology, Medicine/Medical. to excite (a nerve, gland, etc.) to its functional activity.
to invigorate (a person) by a food or beverage containing a stimulant as coffee, tea, or alcoholic liquor.
verb (used without object), stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing.
to act as a stimulus or stimulant.
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Origin of stimulate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin stimulāt(us) (past participle of stimulāre “to goad”); see -ate1

synonym study for stimulate

1. See animate.

OTHER WORDS FROM stimulate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH stimulate

activate, stimulate

Words nearby stimulate

stilyaga, stim, stime, Stimson, stimulant, stimulate, stimulated emission, stimulating, stimulation, stimulative, stimulator
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to stimulate

arouse, encourage, inspire, prompt, quicken, spark, spur, trigger, vitalize, activate, animate, commove, dynamize, elate, energize, enliven, exhilarate, fan, fire, foment

How to use stimulate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for stimulate

stimulate
/ (ˈstɪmjʊˌleɪt) /
verb
(tr; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasmhe was stimulated by the challenge
(tr) physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
to encourage (something) to start or progress furthera cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery

Derived forms of stimulate

stimulable, adjectivestimulation, nounstimulative, adjective, nounstimulator or stimulater, noun

Word Origin for stimulate

C16: from Latin stimulāre; see stimulant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for stimulate

stimulate
[ stĭm′yə-lāt′ ]
v.
To arouse a body or a responsive structure to increased functional activity.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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