arouse
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /əˈɹaʊz/
Verb

arouse (arouses, present participle arousing; past and past participle aroused)

  1. To stimulate feelings.
    The new building proposals in the village are arousing unneeded discomfort.
    to arouse compassion;  to arouse jealousy; to arouse anger
    • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter VIII, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326 ↗:
      “ My tastes,” he said, still smiling, “ incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet.” And, to tease her and arouse her to combat : “ I prefer a farandole to a nocturne ; I'd rather have a painting than an etching ; Mr. Whistler bores me with his monochromatic mud; I don't like dull colours, dull sounds, dull intellects; […].”
  2. To sexually stimulate.
    I can't keep my eyes off the dancer; she arouses me greatly.
    1. (euphemism) To cause an erection of the penis or other physical signs of sexual arousal, such as fluid secretion.
      I can't wear wool underwear: it tends to arouse me at inappropriate times.
  3. To wake from sleep or stupor.
    She was snoring and nothing would arouse her.
    • 1996, Beruga (line translated by Dan Owsen), Terranigma. Nintendo of America.
    • I have no idea who you are, but I thank you for arousing me.
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