stimulate

Borrowed from Latin stimulātus, perfect passive participle of stimulō (“goad on”), from Latin stimulus (“goad”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈstɪm.jəˌleɪt/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

stimulate (third-person singular simple present stimulates, present participle stimulating, simple past and past participle stimulated)

1. To encourage into action.

   Synonyms: encourage, induce, incite, provoke; see also Thesaurus:incite

   stimulate the economy

   • 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter II, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. , volume I, London: Henry Colburn, , published 1842, →OCLC, page 18:

     To most others Lord Allerton's obvious preference for Mary would have been an insuperable obstacle; it only served to stimulate her ladyship.

2. To arouse an organism to functional activity.

   Synonyms: animate, arouse, energize, energise, excite, perk up; see also Thesaurus:enliven

   Synonyms: de-energize, sedate, stifle

   stimulate my mind

   He was sexually stimulated by the dancer's moves.

• multiseat, mutilates, ultimates

stimulate

1. present adverbial passive participle of stimuli

stimulāte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of stimulō