| 词组 | stimulant, stimulus |
| 释义 | stimulant, stimulus In scientific usage, a clear distinction is made between these words. A stimulant is an agent (such as a drug) that increases the functional activity of an organism or any of its parts; a stimulus is something (such as an environmental change) that produces a reaction in living tissue. Amphetamines and caffeine are stimulants; bright light is a stimulus that causes the pupils of the eyes to contract. In general usage, however, this distinction is not so strictly observed. Both words are used to describe something that rouses or excites to activity or that provides motivation for change or progress. Stimulus is much more common in this use than stimulant: • ... as a stimulus to change in the interpretation or rejection of Marxist ideas —Times Literary Supp., 5 Mar. 1970 • ... the President's program contains virtually no fiscal stimulus —Robert Lekachman, Dun's, October 1971 • ... would probably be the strongest stimulus to West European unity —Anatole Shub, Harper's, January 1972 But stimulant also occurs: • Aid ... can only be a stimulant. The main growth has to come out of the resources of the poor countries themselves —Peter F. Drucker, Harper's, December 1968 • ... this book may serve as a stimulant to revaluation —Robert Pattison, On Literacy, 1982 This use of stimulant is not highly controversial, but an assortment of commentators, dating back to Vizetelly 1906, have disapproved of it. Our evidence indicates that it is relatively uncommon but nonetheless standard. |
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