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Definition of stimulate verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

stimulate

verb
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪt/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪt/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they stimulate
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪt/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪt/
he / she / it stimulates
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪts/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪts/
past simple stimulated
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪd/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪd/
past participle stimulated
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪd/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪd/
-ing form stimulating
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪŋ/
 
/ˈstɪmjuleɪtɪŋ/
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  1. stimulate something to make something develop or become more active; to encourage something
    • The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work.
    • The article can be used to stimulate discussion among students.
    • a government package designed to stimulate economic growth
    Extra Examples
    • The economy is recovering, stimulated in part by government spending.
    • This tax policy is artificially stimulating demand.
    • Any increase in industrial activity will stimulate demand for electricity.
    • The company is trying to stimulate confidence amongst its investors.
    • The course will stimulate interest in the development of modern society.
    • The first workshop is intended to stimulate ideas.
    • This new government initiative is designed to stimulate economic growth.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • greatly
    • significantly
    • strongly
    verb + stimulate
    • help (to)
    • be designed to
    • be intended to
    See full entry
  2. to make somebody interested and excited about something
    • stimulate somebody Parents should give children books that stimulate them.
    • Both men and women are stimulated by erotic photos (= sexually).
    • stimulate somebody to do something The conference stimulated him to study the subject in more depth.
    Extra Examples
    • These materials are designed to stimulate students intellectually.
    • activities designed to stimulate the children intellectually
    • Stimulate the patient to activity but don't push him too hard.
    Topics Feelingsc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • greatly
    • significantly
    • strongly
    verb + stimulate
    • help (to)
    • be designed to
    • be intended to
    See full entry
  3. stimulate something (specialist) to make a part of the body function
    • The women were given fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries.
  4. Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘sting, afflict’): from Latin stimulat- ‘urged, goaded’, from the verb stimulare.
See stimulate in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee stimulate in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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