excitation

Noun

excitation (countable and uncountable, plural excitations)

1. The act of exciting or putting in motion; the act of rousing up or awakening.
   • Generator excitation is obtained by a combination of the separately-excited and self-excited fields, and the output is controlled by a resistance in the separate field circuit adjusted by the load regulator under the control of the engine governor.1961 October, “The first 1,250 h.p. Birmingham/Sulzer Type 2 diesels enter service”, in Trains Illustrated, page 607
   • Wheelslip automatically causes the main generator field excitation to be reduced; the load regulator is forced back to minimum excitation and, if operating in one of the two stages of traction motor field divert, causes reversion to full field.1962 December, “The Oxted Line diesel-electric multiple-units”, in Modern Railways, page 385
2. The act of producing excitement (stimulation); also, the excitement produced.
   • Baiae: An ancient Roman pleasure resort [...]. It was the focal point of all kinds fo erotic experiments, unbridled debauchery, amorous intrigues and excitations, sexual encounters and aberrations.1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 39
   • These women are experts at flattery, cajolery and sexual excitation, and also possess unusual talents for stirring up quarrels, stimulating jealousies and spreading slander and malicious rumors.1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 79
3. The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or part, such as a nerve cell, as a result of stimulation.
4. A transition of a nucleus, atom or molecule to an excited state by the absorption of a quantum of energy; the opposite of relaxation.