English Explanatory Dictionary

stimulus

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An external phenomenon that has an influence on a system, by triggering or modifying an internal phenomenon; for example, a spur or incentive that drives a person to take action or change behaviour.
  2. Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response, or that affects any of the sensory apparatuses.
  3. A stinging part on the body of a plant or insect.

Pronunciation

/ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-stimulus.wav

Word forms

stimulus stimuluses stimuli

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin stimulus (“goad, prick”).

Synonyms

influence impetus impulse spur

Derived words

antistimulus chemostimulus contrastimulus costimulus counterstimulus discriminative stimulus external stimulus extrastimulus gravistimulus hyperstimulus interstimulus mechanostimulus microstimulus noxious stimulus peristimulus photostimulus Porkulus poststimulus poverty of the stimulus prestimulus stimulon stimulus check stimulus delta stimulus-response time superstimulus tristimulus
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