stimulate

English

Etymology

    Borrowed from Latin stimulātus, perfect passive participle of stimulō (to urge, goad on) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin stimulus (a sting or prick; a stimulus, goad).

    Pronunciation

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

    Verb

    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.

    Derived terms

    Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

    Anagrams

    Esperanto

    Adverb

    stimulate

    1. present adverbial passive participle of stimuli

    Latin

    Verb

    stimulāte

    1. second-person plural present active imperative of stimulō