stimulus
Meaning: Something that provokes a response or reaction, particularly in a physiological, psychological, or economic context.
In psychology, a stimulus is anything that triggers a sensory or behavioural response — light, sound, touch, or even an idea. In economics, a stimulus (or stimulus package) refers to government spending or tax cuts designed to boost economic activity. The plural form is stimuli. The word appears frequently in academic writing and news media.
Examples
- The experiment measured participants' reaction times to visual and auditory stimuli. 该实验测量了参与者对视觉和听觉刺激的反应时间。El experimento midió los tiempos de reacción de los participantes ante estímulos visuales y auditivos.その実験では、視覚的および聴覚的刺激に対する参加者の反応時間を測定した。그 실험에서는 시각적 및 청각적 자극에 대한 참가자들의 반응 시간을 측정했다.
- The government announced a fiscal stimulus package to support businesses through the economic downturn. 政府宣布了一项财政刺激计划,以支持企业度过经济低迷期。El Gobierno anunció un paquete de estímulo fiscal para apoyar a las empresas durante la recesión económica.政府は景気後退期に企業を支援するための財政刺激策を発表した。정부는 경기 침체기에 기업을 지원하기 위한 재정 부양책을 발표했다.
- Without sufficient intellectual stimulus, children can become disengaged from learning. 缺乏足够的智力刺激,儿童可能会对学习失去兴趣。Sin suficiente estímulo intelectual, los niños pueden desvincularse del aprendizaje.十分な知的刺激がなければ、子どもたちは学習への意欲を失う可能性がある。충분한 지적 자극이 없으면 아이들은 학습에 대한 의욕을 잃을 수 있다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin stimulus (a goad, spur, incentive), related to the verb stimulare (to urge, prod). Adopted into English in the late 17th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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