AROUSAL
Dictionary entry overview: What does arousal mean?
• AROUSAL (noun)
The noun AROUSAL has 4 senses:
1. the act of arousing
2. a state of heightened physiological activity
3. awakening from sleep
4. mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse
Familiarity information: AROUSAL used as a noun is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• AROUSAL (noun)
Meaning:
The act of arousing
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
arousal; rousing
Context example:
the purpose of art is the arousal of emotions
Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):
change of state (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):
awakening; wakening; waking up (the act of waking)
excitation; excitement (something that agitates and arouses)
incitation; incitement (an act of urging on or spurring on or rousing to action or instigating)
inflaming; inflammation (arousal to violent emotion)
inspiration; stirring (arousing to a particular emotion or action)
stimulation (the act of arousing an organism to action)
titillation (an agreeable arousal)
Meaning:
A state of heightened physiological activity
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):
physiological condition; physiological state (the state of the body or bodily functions)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):
alerting; alertness (a state of readiness to respond)
emotional arousal (the arousal of strong emotions and emotional behavior)
excitation; innervation; 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)
Meaning:
Awakening from sleep
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):
wakefulness (a periodic state during which you are conscious and aware of the world)
Meaning:
Mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
foreplay; arousal; stimulation
Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):
sex; sex activity; sexual activity; sexual practice (activities associated with sexual intercourse)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):
feel (manual stimulation of the genital area for sexual pleasure)
caressing; cuddling; fondling; hugging; kissing; necking; petting; smooching; snuggling (affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs))
