v. stim·u·lat·ed, stim·u·lat·ing, stim·u·lates v.tr. 1. To rouse to action or increased activity; excite: a policy that stimulated people to protest; incentives to stimulate consumer spending. See Synonyms at provoke. 2. To increase temporarily the activity of (a body organ or system, for example). 3. To cause to be interested or engaged: Animals in zoos need to be stimulated to remain healthy. 4. To cause to desire to have sex; arouse sexually. 5. To excite or invigorate (a person, for example) with a stimulant. v.intr. To act or serve as a stimulant or stimulus. [Latin stimulāre, stimulāt-, to goad on, from stimulus, goad.] stimu·lat′er, stimu·la′tor n. stimu·lat′ing·ly adv. stim′u·lation n. stimu·la′tive, stimu·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj. |
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