stim|u|lus

stim|u|lus
stim|u|lus «STIHM yuh luhs», noun, plural -li «-ly».
1. something that stirs to action or effort: »

Ambition is a great stimulus. We need some imaginative stimulus…to carry us year after year…through the routine work which is so large a part of our life (Walter Pater).

 SYNONYM(S): incentive, spur.
2. something that excites the body or some part of the body to a specific activity or function; something that produces a response, such as the transmitting of an impulse along a nerve, the movement of a muscle, or a changed state of consciousness, in an organism: »

The doctor used mild electric shocks as a stimulus to keep the patient's heart beating. The stimulus of a loud sound, carried by nerves to the brain, made the baby cry.

3. Botany. a sting, such as a stinging hair on a nettle.
╂[< Latin stimulus (originally) a goad]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • stim·u·lus — …   Useful english dictionary

  • stim — di·a·stim·e·ter; stim·part; stim·u·la·bil·i·ty; stim·u·la·ble; stim·u·lan·cy; stim·u·late; stim·u·lat·ing·ly; stim·u·la·tion; stim·u·la·tive; stim·u·la·tor; stim·u·la·to·ry; stim·u·log·e·nous; stim·u·lus; sprech·stim·me; stim·u·lant; stim;… …   English syllables

  • lus — abac·u·lus; aceph·a·lus; acer·vu·lus; ac·i·doph·i·lus; ac·ti·no·ba·cil·lus; ac·u·le·o·lus; aero·ba·cil·lus; aes·cu·lus; ag·ri·lus; al·a·lus; al·lo·phy·lus; al·ti·ca·me·lus; al·ve·o·lus; am·e·lus; amor·pho·phal·lus; am·phib·a·lus; amyg·da·lus;… …   English syllables

  • stimulus — stim·u·lus …   English syllables

  • stimulus — stim|u|lus [ stımjələs ] (plural stim|u|li [ stımjə,laı ] ) noun count or uncount ** 1. ) anything that encourages something to happen, develop, or improve: stimulus to: The Fed hopes that lower interest rates will be a stimulus to investment.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • stimulus — stim|u|lus [ˈstımjuləs] n plural stimuli [ laı] [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: sharp stick for making animals move ] 1.) [C usually singular, U] something that helps a process to develop more quickly or more strongly ▪ Tax cuts provided the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • stimulus — stim•u•lus [[t]ˈstɪm yə ləs[/t]] n. pl. li [[t] ˌlaɪ[/t]] 1) something that incites or quickens action, feeling, thought, etc 2) med phl psl pha something that excites an organism or part to functional activity • Etymology: 1605–15; < L: a… …   From formal English to slang

  • stimulus — 1. A stimulant. 2. That which can elicit or evoke action (response) in a muscle, nerve, gland or other excitable tissue, or cause an augmenting action upon any function or metabolic …   Medical dictionary

  • interstimulus — in·ter·stim·u·lus .int ər stim yə ləs adj of, relating to, or being the interval between the presentation of two discrete stimuli …   Medical dictionary

  • poststimulus — post·stim·u·lus stim yə ləs adj of, relating to, occurring in, or being the period immediately after administration of a stimulus (as to a neuron) …   Medical dictionary

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