stimulate

Universal Words verb 1 [VN] to make sth develop or become more active; to encourage sth: 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 2 to make sb interested and excited about sth: [VN] Parents should give children books that stimulate them. * Both men and women are stimulated by erotic photos (= sexually). * [VNtoinf] The conference stimulated him to study the subject in more depth. 3 [VN] (technical) to make a part of the body function: The women were given fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries. stimulation noun [U]: sensory / intellectual / sexual / visual / physical stimulation