What is the meaning of provoke?

verb

• Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses. )
  • usage: "arouse pity"; "raise a smile"; "evoke sympathy"
  • synonyms: arouse, elicit, enkindle, kindle, evoke, fire, raise
• Evoke or provoke to appear or occur.
  • usage: "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple"
  • synonyms: evoke, call forth, kick up
• Provide the needed stimulus for.
  • synonyms: stimulate
• Annoy continually or chronically.
  • usage: "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers"
  • synonyms: harass, hassle, harry, chivy, chivvy, chevy, chevvy, beset, plague, molest