1. raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system): "the women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries"
▪ encourage interest or activity in (a person or animal): "the reader could not fail to be stimulated by the ideas presented"
▪ encourage development of or increased activity in (a state or process):"the courses stimulate a passion for learning"
Word Originmid 16th century (in the sense ‘sting, afflict’): from Latin stimulat- ‘urged, goaded’, from the verb stimulare.