stimulus (ˈstɪmjʊləs
)
Definitions
noun
- 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
- medicine a former name for stimulant
Word Origin
C17: from Latin: a cattle goadSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
incentive,
spur,
encouragement,
impetus,
provocation,
inducement,
goad,
incitement,
fillip,
shot in the arm,
clarion call,
geeing-up
Usage examples
But she seemed indifferent to the discomfort, as she was to every other physical stimulus but that of taste.
, THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)In other words, their attention has been drawn to a stimulus, without any knowledge or appreciation of the significance of the stimulus.
Spiked (2004)"Outside of the true believers, I think the broad agreement is there's no measurable stimulus in his economic stimulus program.
Globe and Mail (2003)Global growth has fallen sharply, unemployment is growing and the economy could do with a fiscal stimulus , after all.
Times, Sunday Times (2001)Another troublesome measurement question arises in evaluating dream imagery for the presence of the presleep stimulus.
, Our Dreaming Mind (1994)