excitation

[ ek-sahy-tey-shuhn, -si- ]

noun

1. the act of exciting.
2. the state of being excited.
3. Electricity.
   1. the application of voltage to an electric device, as an electron-tube circuit, an antenna, or a dynamotor, often for producing a magnetic field in the device.
   2. the voltage applied.
4. Physics. a process in which a molecule, atom, nucleus, or particle is excited.
5. Also called drive. Electronics. the varying voltage applied to the control electrode of a vacuum tube.

excitation

/ ˌɛksɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of exciting or state of being excited
2. a means of exciting or cause of excitement
3. 1. the current in a field coil of a generator, motor, etc, or the magnetizing current in a transformer
   2. ( as modifier )

      an excitation current

4. the action of a stimulus on an animal or plant organ, inducing it to respond

excitation

/ ĕk′sī-tā′shən /

1. The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or cell of the body that is caused by stimulation, especially by a nerve or neuron.
2. Compare inhibition

Other Words From

• preex·ci·tation noun
• super·exci·tation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of excitation¹

1350–1400; Middle English excitacioun < Late Latin excitātiōn- (stem of excitātiō ), equivalent to Latin excitāt ( us ) (past participle of excitāre; excite ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

A genetic disorder leads to an increase in bioactive lipids in the brain, resulting in an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in neural circuits and promoting mental disorders.

From Science Daily

Many neurons in the network that are at the right level of excitation would rely on this current to spontaneously spike.

From Science Daily

"It involved delicate sample handling techniques and optimization of conditions, such as excitation wavelengths, for achieving deep imaging of flowers," she explained.

From Science Daily

"The advantage is that ions allow highly localized, short-time excitations in the material compared to what laser light can do. This enables high-precision studies of how graphene and other 2D materials evolve over time."

From Science Daily

Moreover, their extreme temporal confinement allows for temporal isolation of the sample's response from the main excitation pulse.

From Science Daily