stimulus
[ stim-yuh-luhs ]
/ ˈstɪm yə ləs /
noun, plural stim·u·li [stim-yuh-lahy] /ˈstɪm yəˌlaɪ/.
something that incites to action or exertion or quickens action, feeling, thought, etc.: The approval of others is a potent stimulus.
Physiology, Medicine/Medical.
something that excites an organism or part to functional activity.
Origin of stimulus
1605–15; < Latin: a goad
SYNONYMS FOR stimulus
2
stimulant.
OTHER WORDS FROM stimulus
in·ter·stim·u·lus, noun, plural in·ter·stim·u·li. post·stim·u·lus, adjective pre·stim·u·lus, noun, plural pre·stim·u·li. un·der·stim·u·lus, noun, plural un·der·stim·u·li.Words nearby stimulus
Example sentences from the Web for stimuli
British Dictionary definitions for stimuli
stimulus
/ (ˈstɪmjʊləs) /
noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ, -ˌliː)
something that stimulates or acts as an incentive
any drug, agent, electrical impulse, or other factor able to cause a response in an organism
an object or event that is apprehended by the senses
med a former name for stimulant
Word Origin for stimulus
C17: from Latin: a cattle goad
Medical definitions for stimuli
stimulus
[ stĭm′yə-ləs ]
n. pl. stim•u•li (-lī′)
A stimulant.
That which can elicit or evoke an action or response in a cell, an excitable tissue, or an organism.
Scientific definitions for stimuli
stimulus
[ stĭm′yə-ləs ]
Plural stimuli (stĭm′yə-lī′)
Physiology
Something that can elicit or evoke a physiological response in a cell, a tissue, or an organism. A stimulus can be internal or external. Sense organs, such as the ear, and sensory receptors, such as those in the skin, are sensitive to external stimuli such as sound and touch.
Something that has an impact or an effect on an organism so that its behavior is modified in a detectable way. See more at classical conditioning.
Cultural definitions for stimuli
stimulus
plur. stimuli (stim-yuh-leye)
An action, condition, or person that provokes a response, especially a conditioned response.