From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
stimulate
v 1: act as a stimulant; "The book stimulated her imagination";
"This play stimulates" [syn: stimulate, excite] [ant:
dampen, stifle]
2: cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads
induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy
a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" [syn: induce,
stimulate, cause, have, get, make]
3: stir the feelings, emotions, or peace of; "These stories
shook the community"; "the civil war shook the country" [syn:
stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir]
4: cause to be alert and energetic; "Coffee and tea stimulate
me"; "This herbal infusion doesn't stimulate" [syn:
stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk
up] [ant: calm, de-energise, de-energize, sedate,
tranquilize, tranquillise, tranquillize]
5: cause to occur rapidly; "the infection precipitated a high
fever and allergic reactions" [syn: induce, stimulate,
rush, hasten]
6: stir feelings in; "stimulate my appetite"; "excite the
audience"; "stir emotions" [syn: stimulate, excite,
stir]
7: provide the needed stimulus for [syn: provoke, stimulate]