stimulate
verb uk/ˈstɪm.jə.leɪt/ us/ˈstɪm.jə.leɪt/
B2 [ T ]激发，激励；促进
to encourage something to grow, develop, or become active
The government plans to cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy. 政府计划减税以刺激经济发展。
B2 [ I or T ]刺激，使兴奋;使感兴趣
to make someone excited and interested about something
The show was intended to stimulate and amuse. 这部电影的主要目的是助兴和娱乐。
[ + obj + to infinitive ] Good teachers should ask questions that stimulate students to think. 好的老师应该问一些能激发学生们思考的问题。
Erotic images are often more sexually stimulating to men than to women. 色情影像在性方面对男性的刺激作用大于女性。
[ T ] biology specialized促进（身体某部位）的功能
to cause part of the body to operate
The drugs stimulate the damaged tissue into repairing itself. 药物促使受损的组织自行修复。
Standing on your head is supposed to stimulate hair growth. 据信倒立可以促进头发的生长。
- More examples
- The athletes had taken pills to stimulate their metabolic rate.
- This legislation is designed to stimulate the faltering economy.
- The government is taking steps to stimulate business development in economically distressed areas .
- It's an artificial device which stimulates the auditory areas of the brain.
- It's not the sort of movie that stimulates the old grey matter much.