stimulate
stim·u·late / ˈstimyəˌlāt/ • v. [tr.] raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system): the women are given fertility drugs to stimulate their ovaries. ∎ encourage interest or activity in (a person or animal): the reader could not fail to be stimulated by the ideas presented| [as adj.] (stimulating) a rich and stimulating working environment. ∎ encourage development of or increased activity in (a state or process): the courses stimulate a passion for learning tax changes designed to stimulate economic growth.DERIVATIVES: stim·u·la·ble / -ləbəl/ adj.stim·u·lat·ing·ly adv.stim·u·la·tion / ˌstimyəˈlāshən/ n.stim·u·la·tive / -ˌlātiv; -lətiv/ adj.stim·u·la·tor / -ˌlātər/ n.stim·u·la·to·ry / -ləˌtôrē/ adj.