stimulus
noun /ˈstɪmjələs/
/ˈstɪmjələs/
(plural stimuli
/ˈstɪmjəlaɪ/
/ˈstɪmjəlaɪ/
)- [usually singular] something that helps somebody/something to develop better or more quickly
- stimulus for something Books provide children with ideas and a stimulus for play.
- stimulus to something The new tax laws should act as a stimulus to exports.
- stimulus (for somebody) (to do something) This development also acted as a stimulus for Britain to modernize her air force.
Extra Examples- Congress passed the President's economic stimulus package.
- The initial stimulus came from a letter in the newspaper.
- He stressed the value of public investment as a stimulus to growth.
- The research provided the stimulus for improvements in public libraries.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- major
- powerful
- …
- act as
- give
- provide
- …
- come from something
- bill
- package
- plan
- …
- stimulus for
- stimulus to
- a response to a stimulus
- something that produces a reaction in a human, an animal or a plant
- sensory/verbal/visual stimuli
- The animals were conditioned to respond to auditory stimuli (= sounds).
Extra ExamplesTopics Biologyc1- plant growth responses to environmental stimuli
- The pupils dilate in response to chemical stimuli.
- The very act of lying down in bed should provide a strong stimulus for sleep.
- a response to a stimulus
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- major
- powerful
- …
- act as
- give
- provide
- …
- come from something
- bill
- package
- plan
- …
- stimulus for
- stimulus to
- a response to a stimulus
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from Latin, ‘goad, spur, incentive’.