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stimulate

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

First recorded in 1540–50, stimulate is from the Latin word stimulātus (past participle of stimulāre to goad). See stimulus, -ate1
Related formsstim·u·la·ble, adjectivestim·u·la·bil·i·ty [stim-yuh-luh-bil-i-tee] /ˌstɪm yə ləˈbɪl ɪ ti/, nounstim·u·lat·ing·ly, adverbstim·u·la·tion, nounstim·u·la·tor, stim·u·lat·er, nounan·ti·stim·u·la·tion, nounhy·per·stim·u·la·tion, nounin·ter·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), in·ter·stim·u·lat·ed, in·ter·stim·u·lat·ing.in·ter·stim·u·la·tion, nounnon·stim·u·la·ble, adjectivenon·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectivenon·stim·u·la·tion, nouno·ver·stim·u·late, verb, o·ver·stim·u·lat·ed, o·ver·stim·u·lat·ing.o·ver·stim·u·la·tion, nounpost·stim·u·la·tion, adjectivepre·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), pre·stim·u·lat·ed, pre·stim·u·lat·ing.pre·stim·u·la·tion, nounre·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), re·stim·u·lat·ed, re·stim·u·lat·ing.re·stim·u·la·tion, nounself-stim·u·lat·ed, adjectiveself-stim·u·lat·ing, adjectiveself-stim·u·la·tion, nounsem·i·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectivesu·per·stim·u·late, verb (used with object), su·per·stim·u·lat·ed, su·per·stim·u·lat·ing.su·per·stim·u·la·tion, nounun·stim·u·la·ble, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ed, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ing, adjectiveun·stim·u·lat·ing·ly, adverb
Can be confusedactivate actuate stimulate

Synonyms

See more synonyms for stimulate on Thesaurus.com
1. arouse, activate, excite.

Synonym study

1. See animate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for stimulating

stimulating

adjective
  1. inspiring new ideas or enthusiasm
  2. (of a physical activity) making one feel refreshed and energetic
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Derived Formsstimulatingly, adverb

stimulate

verb
  1. (tr; usually passive) to fill (a person) with ideas or enthusiasmhe was stimulated by the challenge
  2. (tr) physiol to excite (a nerve, organ, etc) with a stimulus
  3. to encourage (something) to start or progress furthera cut in interest rates should help stimulate economic recovery
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Derived Formsstimulable, adjectivestimulation, nounstimulative, adjective, nounstimulator or stimulater, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for stimulating

stimulate

v.

1610s, from Latin stimulatus, past participle of stimulare (see stimulation). Related: Stimulated; stimulating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
stimulating in Medicine

stimulate

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