stimulus
Etymology

Borrowed from Latin stimulus.

Pronunciation
  • (America) IPA: /ˈstɪm.jə.ləs/
Noun

stimulus

  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.
    an economic stimulus
    • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC ↗, page 174 ↗:
      From the beginning of the show to the end, vanity is the sole stimulus and reward of action—vanity, that never looks beyond the present.
  2. (physiology, psychology, medicine) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response, or that affects any of the sensory apparatuses.
  3. (botany, entomology) A stinging part on the body of a plant or insect.
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