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Definition stimulus

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin stimulus (“goad, prick”)

Noun

stimulus (plural stimuluses or stimuli)

1. (Can we clean up this sense?) Any external phenomenon that has an influence on a system, by triggering or modifying an internal phenomenon.
2. (Can we clean up this sense?) (physiology) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response.
3. (Can we clean up this sense?) (psychology) Anything effectively impinging upon any of the sensory apparatuses of a living organism, including physical phenomena both internal and external to the body.
4. (Can we clean up this sense?) Anything that induces a person to take action.