plural stimuli, 1680s, originally as a medical term, "something that goads a lazy organ" (often the male member), from a modern use of Latin stimulus "a goad, a pointed stick," figuratively "a sting, a pang; incitement, spur," from PIE *sti- "point, prick, pierce" (see stick (v.)). General sense of "something that excites or arouses the mind or spirit" is from 1791. Psychological sense is first recorded 1894.
雙語例句
1. Books provide children with ideas and a stimulus for play.
書不僅給孩子們以思想，而且使他們玩得更有意思。
來自《權威詞典》
2. Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.
把每次失利看成對進一步努力的激勵.
來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》
3. Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.
光是促進植物生長的一個因素.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
4. Poverty is a stimulus to industry.
貧窮能使人勤勞.
來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》
5. Interest rates could fall soon and be a stimulus to the US economy.