- (v.t.) A goad; hence, something that rouses the mind or spirits; an incentive; as, the hope of gain is a powerful stimulus to labor and action.
- (v.t.) That which excites or produces a temporary increase of vital action, either in the whole organism or in any of its parts; especially (Physiol.), any substance or agent capable of evoking the activity of a nerve or irritable muscle or capable of producing an impression upon a sensory organ or more particularly upon its specific end organ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). stimulus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/stimulus/definitions/2066562 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "stimulus" http://smartdefine.org/stimulus/definitions/2066562 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, stimulus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/stimulus/definitions/2066562>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "stimulus" 28 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/stimulus/definitions/2066562> |