STIMULANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stimulant mean? 

• STIMULANT (noun)
  The noun STIMULANT has 2 senses:

1. any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

2. a drug that temporarily quickens some vital process

  Familiarity information: STIMULANT used as a noun is rare.

• STIMULANT (adjective)
  The adjective STIMULANT has 1 sense:

1. that stimulates

  Familiarity information: STIMULANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STIMULANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

input; stimulant; stimulation; stimulus

Hypernyms ("stimulant" is a kind of...):

information (knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stimulant"):

elicitation; evocation; induction (stimulation that calls up (draws forth) a particular class of behaviors)

kick (the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs))

turn-on (something causing excitement or stimulating interest)

negative stimulation; turnoff (something causing antagonism or loss of interest)

conditioned stimulus (the stimulus that is the occasion for a conditioned response)

reinforcement; reinforcer; reinforcing stimulus ((psychology) a stimulus that strengthens or weakens the behavior that produced it)

cue; discriminative stimulus (a stimulus that provides information about what to do)

positive stimulus (a stimulus with desirable consequences)

negative stimulus (a stimulus with undesirable consequences)

Derivation:

stimulate (act as a stimulant)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A drug that temporarily quickens some vital process

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

excitant; stimulant; stimulant drug

Hypernyms ("stimulant" is a kind of...):

drug (a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stimulant"):

amphetamine; pep pill; speed; upper (a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy and decreases appetite; used to treat narcolepsy and some forms of depression)

analeptic (a medication used as a stimulant to the central nervous system)

aphrodisiac (a drug or other agent that stimulates sexual desire)

butyl nitrite; isobutyl nitrite (a colorless pungent liquid sometimes used as a stimulant drug by drug abusers)

African tea; Arabian tea; cat; kat; khat; qat; quat (the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant)

methylphenidate; Ritalin (central nervous system stimulant (trade name Ritalin) used in the treatment of narcolepsy in adults and attention deficit disorder in children)

popper (a container of stimulant drug (amyl nitrate or butyl nitrite))

Derivation:

stimulate (cause to be alert and energetic)

• STIMULANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

That stimulates

Synonyms:

stimulant; stimulating

Context example:

stimulant phenomena

Similar:

stimulative (capable of arousing or accelerating physiological or psychological activity or response by a chemical agent)

Derivation:

stimulate (act as a stimulant)

stimulate (provide the needed stimulus for)

stimulate (stir feelings in)

 Context examples 

A triphenylethylene nonsteroidal ovulatory stimulant evaluated for antineoplastic activity against breast cancer.

(Clomiphene, NCI Thesaurus)

The general's evident desire of preventing such an examination was an additional stimulant.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

CNS stimulants also raise blood pressure and increase heart rate and breathing rate.

(CNS stimulant, NCI Dictionary)

The hydrochloride salt of atomoxetine, a phenoxy-3-propylamine derivative and selective non-stimulant, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with cognitive-enhancing activity.

(Atomoxetine Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

A species of Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria that are used therapeutically as an immune-stimulant to fight cancer.

(Attenuated Corynebacterium granulosum, NCI Thesaurus)

A peripheral and central respiratory stimulant with a brief duration of action.

(Doxapram Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

It belongs to the family of drugs called stimulants.

(Modafinil, NCI Dictionary)

A synthetic central nervous system stimulant with wakefulness-promoting activity.

(Modafinil, NCI Thesaurus)

It is a type of stimulant.

(Adderall, NCI Dictionary)

A synthetic central nervous system stimulant.

(Methylphenidate, NCI Thesaurus)