stimulus
- 01 C1 Advanced
something that encourages growth, activity, or more effort.
an incentive or spur that encourages a system, such as an economy or a person, to increase activity or development.
Simple“The government provided a financial stimulus to help small businesses grow.”
In context“Economists debated whether the proposed tax cuts would provide a sufficient stimulus to jump-start the stagnant manufacturing sector.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a sharp, stinging part on the body of a plant or an insect.
a stinging hair or sharp organ on a plant or animal used for defense or irritation.
Simple“The biologist examined the tiny stimulus on the leaf under a microscope.”
In context“Certain species of nettle possess a stimulus that injects irritating chemicals into the skin upon the slightest physical contact.”
Usage external stimulus · provide stimulus · stimulus presentation
“Philadelphia public schools received a total of $1.8 billion in federal stimulus funds between 2020 and 2024 to upgrade facilities and support academic recovery.”
“In many cases, however, these state changes are irreversible, in the sense that cells do not return to their original state even after the stimulus disappears.”
Borrowed from Latin stimulus (“goad, prick”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.