figurative. (In Middle English sometimes applied to persons.)

Physical refreshment or sustenance; refreshing or invigorating influence. (Cf. comfort, v. 4.)

A person who or thing which refreshes.

A thing or an action which refreshes; a means of refreshment.

Something which has a reviving, restorative, or invigorating effect. Later also colloquial: a stimulating drink, esp. an alcoholic one.

figurative. Something which adds to, modifies, or has a significant effect on an experience, situation, action, etc.; an affecting circumstance or…

figurative. That which gives liveliness, freshness, or piquancy to a person's character, life, etc. Often in salt of youth, from Shakespeare.

A means of refreshment. Obsolete. rare.

figurative. One who or that which sharpens, stimulates, or incites the intellect, desires, appetite, etc.

Something that serves to rouse, excite, or animate; a stimulus.

Physiology and Medicine. Something that temporarily quickens some vital process, or the function of some organ; a stimulant agent.

Physiology and Medicine. The action of a stimulus: (a) excitation to increased activity, quickening of some vital function or process (cf. stimulus…

figurative. = leaven, n. 2a.

gen. An agency or influence that stimulates to action or (const. to) that quickens an activity or process.

One who or that which inspirits.

= stimulant, n. 2. rare.

Something which refreshens or refreshes.

A lift, a shove up; help, encouragement (by means of publicity, etc.), increase (in value, reputation, etc.). Also, the action of boost, v.2 2.

That which braces (the nerves); hence a tonic medicine (a common sense in 18th cent., now obsolete); spec. a drink taken to brace one up (colloquial…

A person new to an organization, field of activity, etc., who is regarded as an invigorating influence. Usually in plural.

A thing or an action which reinvigorates a person or animal, or which renews or revives something.

One who or that which invigorates.

A blowing; a blast. of the wind. Also, a breath of fresh air; a ‘breather’ (sense 3); to get a blow: to expose oneself to the action of a fresh…

figurative. An invigorating or bracing influence.

transferred. A quickening (of the pulse); a raising of the animal spirits. Hence (dialect or nonstandard) that which raises the spirits, a…

gen. One who or something which stimulates.

A (short) period of time in which to rest and recover, esp. after vigorous physical activity. Also in extended use: a period of time during which…

figurative and in extended use. Anything which restores strength or vigour, or has a bracing effect.

In figurative phrase a shot in the arm, a much needed stimulant or encouragement. colloquial (originally U.S.).