stimulus

noun stim·u·lus \ˈstim-yə-ləs\

: something that causes something else to happen, develop, or become more active

: something that causes a change or a reaction

plural stim·u·li\-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

Full Definition of STIMULUS

: something that rouses or incites to activity: as

a : incentive

b : stimulant 1

c : an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of a living organism or one of its parts (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion)

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Origin of STIMULUS

Latin

First Known Use: 1684

Related to STIMULUS

Synonyms: boost, encouragement, goad, impetus, incentive, incitation, incitement, instigation, momentum, motivation, provocation, spur, stimulant, impulse, yeast

Antonyms: counterincentive, disincentive

Rhymes with STIMULUS

limulus

STIMULUS Defined for Kids

stimulus

noun stim·u·lus \ˈsti-myə-ləs\

plural stim·u·li \-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

Definition of STIMULUS for Kids

: something that stirs or urges to action <The reward was a stimulus for greater effort.>

: an influence that acts usually from outside the body to partly change bodily activity (as by exciting a receptor or sense organ) <Light, heat, and sound are common physical stimuli.>

Medical Dictionary

stimulus

noun stim·u·lus \ˈstim-yə-ləs\

plural stim·u·li \-ˌlī, -ˌlē\

Medical Definition of STIMULUS

: stimulant 1

: an agent (as an environmental change) that directly influences the activity of living protoplasm (as by exciting a sensory organ or evoking muscular contraction or glandular secretion) <a visual stimulus>