stimulation

[stim-yuh-ley-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of exciting a nerve, gland, etc., to its functional activity.

   The fungus is known to have diverse effects on the body, from stimulation of the nervous system to constriction of blood vessels.

2. something that arouses interest, inspiration, or incitement to action.

   Children, with their developing brains, love stimulation and novelty.

3. a cause or incitement.

   Improved rural-urban communication links often act as stimulation for the growth of local towns.

Other Word Forms

• antistimulation noun
• hyperstimulation noun
• interstimulation noun
• nonstimulation noun
• overstimulation noun
• poststimulation adjective
• prestimulation noun
• restimulation noun
• self-stimulation noun
• superstimulation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulation¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin stimulātiō “incentive”; equivalent to stimulate ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )

Related Words

• incentive 
• stimulant