this sense?) Anything that may have an impact or influence on a system. (noun)
this sense?) (physiology) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response. (noun)
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. (noun)
this sense?) Anything that induces a person to take action. (noun)
Examples of word stimulus
* -- Here we place any reaction which is a repetition of any previous stimulus from amongst the ten next preceding, at the same time placing * repetition of preceding stimulus* under a separate heading.
If the quantity of sensorial power remains the same, and the quantity of stimulus be lessened, a weakness of the fibrous contractions ensues, which may be denominated _debility from defect of stimulus_.
President Obama avoided the term "stimulus" last night in his speech before Congress.
In fact, whenever you hear the term "stimulus," a valid substitute term would be "forcible government overrides of private capital allocations."
The term stimulus is already a dirty word, even within the Obama administration.