Stimulus
Something that provokes a response or increases activity; in biology, a detectable change that triggers a physiological or behavioral reaction.
nounStimulus
Something that provokes a response or increases activity; in biology, a detectable change that triggers a physiological or behavioral reaction.
nounImagine This
Imagine a dim room where a flickering light acts as a stimulus that makes your pupils dilate, your heart rate rise, and you instinctively move toward a door that just opened.
Sounds Like
STIM-yuh-luhs
Looks Like
resembles 'stimulation' and shares a root with 'stimulate'
Remember This
Stimulus is singular; stimuli is the plural. In psychology, stimuli trigger responses; in economics, a policy may be described as a stimulus to boost activity.
Other Forms
Connect With
response, trigger, cue, impetus, motivation, incentive
Note
Do not confuse stimulus with stimulant (a drug that increases activity) or with stimulation (the act of stimulating). In everyday use, a stimulus is the trigger, not the act itself.
Study Deeper
- The bright light acted as a stimulus that caused the pupils to dilate.
- In Pavlov's experiments, the bell served as a stimulus that elicited salivation after conditioning.
From Latin stimulus 'goad, spur', from stimulare 'to goad, urge' (stimu- meaning to urge or provoke).
STIM = Start Things In Motion. A stimulus is something that starts a response.
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adjectiveRelating to mysticism or to the spiritual, unseen, or inexplicable; having a mysterious, awe-inspiring quality that suggests the supernatural.
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adjectiveHaving a strong dislike or opposition to something; unwilling to do or engage in it.
Similar Words
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Abasement
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Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
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nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling
Acronym
nounA word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, pronounced as a single word and used as a shorthand for the full name (for example, NASA or radar).