Stimulus

/ˈstɪmjələs/ noun

Definition

Something that causes a reaction or response, especially in a person, animal, or system.

Etymology

From Latin “stimulus,” meaning a goad or pointed stick used to drive animals. It came into science to describe anything that ‘prods’ a living thing into responding.

Kelly Says

Your brain is basically a stimulus‑response machine—light, sound, touch, and even ideas poke it into action. In economics, a ‘stimulus package’ is just a giant money‑poke to get the economy moving.

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