excitation

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)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.”

   “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.”

2. (countable, uncountable)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.”

   “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.”

   “I'm pickin' up good vibrations / She's giving me the excitations.”

   “The erotics of composition are essential to the process, some prereflective excitation and orientation, some sense that your own little verse-craft can dock safe and sound at the big quay of language.”

3. (countable, uncountable)The activity produced in an organ, tissue, or part, such as a nerve cell, as a result of stimulation.
4. (countable, uncountable)A transition of a nucleus, atom or molecule to an excited state by the absorption of a quantum of energy; the opposite of relaxation.