a·rouse
(ə-rouz′)tr.v. a·roused, a·rous·ing, a·rous·es
1.
a. To cause (someone) to be active, attentive, or excited: The report aroused them to take action. The insult aroused him to anger.
b. To stimulate sexual desire in.
2. To give rise to (a feeling, for example); stir up: The odd sight aroused our curiosity. See Synonyms at provoke.
3. To awaken (someone) from sleep.
[From rouse, on the model of such pairs as rise, arise.]
a·rous′al n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | arousal - the act of arousing; "the purpose of art is the arousal of emotions" change of state - the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics awakening, wakening, waking up - the act of waking; "it was an early awakening"; "it was the waking up he hated most" excitation, excitement - something that agitates and arouses; "he looked forward to the excitements of the day" incitement, incitation - an act of urging on or spurring on or rousing to action or instigating; "the incitement of mutiny" inflaming, inflammation - arousal to violent emotion stirring, inspiration - arousing to a particular emotion or action stimulation - the act of arousing an organism to action titillation - an agreeable arousal |
| 2. |  arousal - a state of heightened physiological activityphysical condition, physiological condition, physiological state - the condition or state of the body or bodily functions alerting, alertness - a state of readiness to respond; "alerting was indicated by the desynchronization of the EEG" emotional arousal - the arousal of strong emotions and emotional behavior innervation, excitation, irritation - the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland sexual arousal - the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior desire - something that is desired | |
| 3. |  arousal - awakening from sleep wakefulness - a periodic state during which you are conscious and aware of the world; "consciousness during wakefulness in a sane person is pretty well ordered and familiar" | |
| 4. |  arousal - mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercoursesex activity, sexual activity, sexual practice - activities associated with sexual intercourse; "they had sex in the back seat" caressing, cuddling, fondling, hugging, kissing, petting, smooching, snuggling, necking - affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs) feel - manual stimulation of the genital area for sexual pleasure; "the girls hated it when he tried to sneak a feel" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
arousal
noun stimulation, movement, response, reaction, excitement, animation, stirring up, provocation, inflammation, agitation, exhilaration, incitement, enlivenment Thinking angry thoughts can provoke strong physiological arousal.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
arousal
n (sexual) → Erregung f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
arousal
n (from sleep) (el) despertar; (sexual) excitación fEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.