arouse

English

Etymology

a- +‎ rouse.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -aʊz

Verb

arouse (third-person singular simple present arouses, present participle arousing, simple past and past participle aroused)

1. To stimulate feelings.
   • 1907, Robert Chambers, chapter 8, The Younger Set^[1]:

     “ My tastes,” he said, still smiling, “ incline me to the garishly sunlit side of this planet.” And, to tease her and arouse her to combat : “ I prefer a farandole to a nocturne ; I'd rather have a painting than an etching ; … ”

   • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, Lord Stranleigh Abroad^[2]:

     She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination.

   • The new building proposals in the village are arousing unneeded discomfort.
2. To sexually stimulate.
   • I can't keep my eyes off the dancer; she arouses me greatly.
3. To wake from sleep or stupor.
   • She was snoring and nothing would arouse her.

See also

• arousal
• aroused

Translations

to stimulate feelings

• Bulgarian: събуждам (bg) (sǎbuždam)
• Dutch: opwekken (nl)
• Finnish: herättää (fi)
• Irish: spreag (ga)

• Korean: 자극하다 (ko)
• Portuguese: provocar (pt), incitar (pt)
• Scottish Gaelic: beothaich (gd)

to sexually stimulate

• Bulgarian: възбуждам (bg) (vǎzbuždam)
• Dutch: opwinden (nl)
• Finnish: kiihottaa (fi)
• French: émoustiller (fr), exciter (fr)
• German: erregen (de)

• Korean: 자극하다 (ko) (어라우즈)
• Portuguese: provocar (pt), excitar (pt)
• Russian: возбуждать (ru) (vozbuždatʹ)
• Spanish: excitar (es)

to awaken

• Finnish: herättää (fi)
• Polish: budzić (pl), obudzić (pl)
• Portuguese: despertar (pt)

• Scottish Gaelic: beothaich (gd)
• Spanish: despertar (es)

Anagrams

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