1. (n.) A pointed instrument used to urge on a beast; hence, any necessity that urges or stimulates.

2. (v. t.) To prick; to drive with a goad; hence, to urge forward, or to rouse by anything pungent, severe, irritating, or inflaming; to stimulate.

actuate animate assault bear bear upon boost buck bull bulldoze bump bump against bunt butt butt against cage catalyst coerce compel compulsion corral cram crowd desire dig drive drive on drove egg on elbow exhort flog force forward gad gadfly give an impetus give momentum herd hurtle hustle impel impetus impulse impulsion incentive incitation incite incitement instigate jab jam jog joggle jolt jostle lash lust motivate motivation move needle nudge oxgoad passion pile drive poke power press prick prod prompt propel punch punch cattle push put in motion ram ram down rattle ride herd on round up rowel run run against set agoing set going set in motion shake shepherd shoulder shove sic spur stimulant sting stress tamp thrust urge whip whip on whiplash wrangle zeal