Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

Excite

 - 4 dictionary results

ex⋅cite

  [ik-sahyt]
Use Excite in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -cit⋅ed, -cit⋅ing.
1. to arouse or stir up the emotions or feelings of: to excite a person to anger; actions that excited his father's wrath.
2. to arouse or stir up (emotions or feelings): to excite jealousy or hatred.
3. to cause; awaken: to excite interest or curiosity.
4. to stir to action; provoke or stir up: to excite a dog by baiting him.
5. Physiology. to stimulate: to excite a nerve.
6. Electricity. to supply with electricity for producing electric activity or a magnetic field: to excite a dynamo.
7. Physics. to raise (an atom, molecule, etc.) to an excited state.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < L excitāre, equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + citāre, freq. of ciēre to set in motion

Synonyms:
1. stir, awaken, stimulate, animate, kindle, inflame. 2. evoke. 4. disturb, agitate, ruffle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Excite
ex·cite   (ĭk-sīt')   
tr.v.   ex·cit·ed, ex·cit·ing, ex·cites

  1. To stir to activity.

  2. To call forth (a reaction or emotion, for example); elicit: odd noises that excited our curiosity.

  3. To arouse strong feeling in: speakers who know how to excite a crowd. See Synonyms at provoke.

  4. Physiology To produce increased activity or response in (an organ, tissue, or part); stimulate.

  5. Physics

    1. To increase the energy of.

    2. To raise (an atom, for example) to a higher energy level.


[Middle English exciten, from Latin excitāre, frequentative of exciēre : ex-, ex- + ciēre, to set in motion; see kei-2 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

excite 
c.1340, "to move, instigate," from L. excitare "rouse, produce," freq. of exciere "call forth, instigate," from ex- "out" + ciere "set in motion, call" (see cite). Main modern sense of "emotionally agitate" is first attested 1821; excited (1660) meant "magnetically or electrically stimulated" until modern sense appeared in 1855; exciting (1811) originally meant "causing disease," sense of "causing excitement" is 1826.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·cite
Pronunciation: ik-'sIt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: ex·cit·ed; ex·cit·ing
1 : to increase the activity of (as a living organism) : STIMULATE
2 : to raise(as an atomic nucleus, an atom, or a molecule) to a higher energy level
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see Excite on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way