---
title: stimulate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «stimulate» in the school dictionary: To stimulate means to make something more active or make it grow or work more. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# stimulate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** nerve, Exercise, trip, my, Puzzles, Sunlight · **What happens:** stimulate, mean, make, grow, work, be · **To what, where:** something, it, person, them, biology, eye · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«stimulate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [stimulate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stimulate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stimulate means to make something more active or make it grow or work more.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:m1:1
# text = To stimulate means to make something more active or make it grow or work more.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	active	active	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	xcomp	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	work	work	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
15	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | active *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 4 | **make** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 5 | **grow** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 6 | **work** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Exercise stimulates your heart."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:m1e:1
# text = "Exercise stimulates your heart."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Exercise	exercise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stimulates	stimulate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	heart	heart	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** *in a quote* | present | Exercise | your heart |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus heart=Experiencer |

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To stimulate a person means to make them interested, excited or full of ideas.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:m2:1
# text = To stimulate a person means to make them interested, excited or full of ideas.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	interested	interested	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
11	excited	excited	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	ideas	idea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | to-infinitive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus person=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | them *= they* |  |  |  | interested *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset they=Product |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"The trip stimulated my interest in rocks."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:m2e:1
# text = "The trip stimulated my interest in rocks."
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	stimulated	stimulate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	interest	interest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	rocks	rock	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** *in a quote* | past | the trip | my interest |  | rocks |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus interest=Experiencer |
| 2 | **interest** *in a quote* |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom interest «cognition transitive»: poss=agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In biology, to stimulate a nerve or sense is to make it react, for example light stimulates the eye.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:m3:1
# text = In biology, to stimulate a nerve or sense is to make it react, for example light stimulates the eye.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	biology	biology	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	nerve	nerve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	ccomp	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	_
14	react	react	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	for	for	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	compound	_	_
18	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obl	_	_
19	stimulates	stimulate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
20	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	eye	eye	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | to-infinitive |  |  |  | biology |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | a nerve or sense |  |  |  |  | make *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **react** | infinitive | a nerve or sense *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn respond-113 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **stimulate** | present |  | the eye |  |  |  | for example light | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus eye=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Puzzles stimulate your brain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x1:1
# text = Puzzles stimulate your brain.
1	Puzzles	puzzle	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | present | Puzzles | your brain |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus brain=Experiencer |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunlight stimulates plants to grow.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x2:1
# text = Sunlight stimulates plants to grow.
1	Sunlight	sunlight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stimulates	stimulate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	plants	plant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	grow	grow	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | present | Sunlight | plants |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus plant=Experiencer |
| 2 | **grow** | to-infinitive | Sunlight *not said here* | plants *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The museum visit stimulated our curiosity about Egypt.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x3:1
# text = The museum visit stimulated our curiosity about Egypt.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	museum	museum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	visit	visit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	stimulated	stimulate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	amod	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	curiosity	curiosity	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Egypt	Egypt	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Coffee stimulates adults and keeps them awake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x4:1
# text = Coffee stimulates adults and keeps them awake.
1	Coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	stimulates	stimulate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	adults	adult	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	keeps	keep	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
6	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	obj	_	_
7	awake	awake	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | present | Coffee | adults |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus adult=Experiencer |
| 2 | **keep** | present | Coffee *not said here* | adults *= adult* |  |  |  | awake *property* | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent they=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Bright colours stimulate babies' eyes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x5:1
# text = Bright colours stimulate babies' eyes.
1	Bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	colours	colour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	babies	baby	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	'	's	PART	POS	_	4	case	_	_
6	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stimulate** | present | Bright colours | babies's eyes |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus eye=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The government cut taxes to stimulate the economy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x6:1
# text = The government cut taxes to stimulate the economy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	government	government	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	cut	cut	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	taxes	tax	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	economy	economy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | past | the government | taxes |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tax=Product |
| 2 | **stimulate** | to-infinitive | the government *not said here* | the economy |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus economy=Experiencer |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher asked questions to stimulate a discussion.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:stimulate:x7:1
# text = The teacher asked questions to stimulate a discussion.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	questions	question	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	stimulate	stimulate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	discussion	discussion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | the teacher | questions |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP whether S\_INF»: agent=Agent question=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **stimulate** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | questions *not said here* | a discussion |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus discussion=Experiencer |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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