1. (v. t.) To call to activity in any way; to rouse to feeling; to kindle to passionate emotion; to stir up to combined or general activity; as, to excite a person, the spirits, the passions; to excite a mutiny or insurrection; to excite heat by friction.

2. (v. t.) To call forth or increase the vital activity of an organism, or any of its parts.

activate affect the interest agitate anger animate annoy arouse attract awake awaken beat beat up begin blow the coals blow up bring about call forth call up cause churn churn up concern convulse cultivate disarrange discompose disconcert disquiet disturb effect electrify elicit energize enkindle enliven enrage excite interest fan fan the fire fan the flame fascinate feed the fire ferment fire fire up flame flurry fluster foment frenzy fret galvanize generate get going heat heat up hop up ignite impassion incense incite inflame infuriate initiate inspire inspirit instigate interest intrigue invigorate invite involve in key up kindle lather up light the fuse light up madden make sensitive motivate move nettle occasion overexcite paddle perturb perturbate pique prime prod provoke put up to quicken rally refine rile ripple roil roughen rouse ruffle rumple sensibilize sensitize set astir set fire to set in motion set on set on fire shake shake up sharpen sic on spark spur on start steam up stimulate stir stir the blood stir the embers stir the feelings stir up summon up swirl tantalize thrill tickle titillate touch off trouble turn on upset urge wake wake up waken warm warm the blood whet whip whip up whisk wind up work into work up