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 Words From

• an·ti·stim·u·la·tion noun
• hy·per·stim·u·la·tion noun
• in·ter·stim·u·la·tion noun
• non·stim·u·la·tion noun
• o·ver·stim·u·la·tion noun
• post·stim·u·la·tion adjective
• pre·stim·u·la·tion noun
• re·stim·u·la·tion noun
• self-stim·u·la·tion noun
• su·per·stim·u·la·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stimulation¹

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

Example Sentences

Instead of studying cells in a lab dish, the scientists used advanced computer modeling to analyze how molecular networks inside ciliate and mammalian cells respond to different patterns of stimulation.

From Science Daily

Don’t take personally the Sagittarius penchant to run away at a moment’s notice to a faraway land promising the stimulation they not just crave but require to fuel their hyperactive brains.

From Los Angeles Times

But when they found they could only have stimulation drugs on the NHS, she says she turned to her mum and asked, "What do we do?"

From BBC

“It’s a lot. There’s a lot of visual stimulation.”

From Los Angeles Times

State law defines sexual conduct not just as sexual acts, but graphic displays of nude bodies or bodily functions for the purpose of sexual stimulation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• incentive
• stimulant