stimulate
Cross references: 1. provoke stim.u.late \-.la-t\ \.stim-y*-'la--sh*n\ \'stim-y*-.la-t-iv\ \-.la-t-*r\ \-l*-.to-r-e-, -.to.r-\ vb [L stimulatus, pp. of stimulare, fr. stimulus goad; akin to L] stilus stake, stylus - more at \STYLE 1: to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity : ANIMATEM, AROUSE 2a: to function as a physiological stimulus to 2b: to arouse or affect by a stimulant (as a drug) : to act as a stimulant or stimulus - stim.u.la.tion n