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stimulus

Pronunciation: /ˈstɪmjʊləs/

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Definition of stimulus

noun (plural stimuli /-lʌɪ, -liː/)

  • a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue:areas of the brain which respond to auditory stimuli
  • a thing that arouses activity or energy in someone or something; a spur or incentive:if the tax were abolished, it would act as a stimulus to exports
  • [in singular] an interesting and exciting quality:she loved the stimulus of the job

Origin:

late 17th century: from Latin, 'goad, spur, incentive'

Spelling help

Make the plural of stimulus by changing the -us ending to -i (as in Latin): stimuli.

stimulus in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of stimulus in the US English dictionary

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