provocation
/ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃən/noun
mass noun
1
- action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately（尤指蓄意的）挑衅; 激怒, 刺激：
you should remain calm and not respond to provocation
你应该保持镇静, 不要对挑衅作出反应
he burst into tears at the slightest provocation.
他为了点小得不能再小的刺激就嚎啕大哭。
1.1
- Law action or speech held to be likely to prompt physical retaliation【律】挑衅（行为或语言）：
the assault had taken place under provocation.
这场攻击是因挑衅而起。
2
- the action of arousing sexual desire or interest, especially deliberately（尤指蓄意的）性挑逗：
walking with deliberate provocation, she struck a pose, then giggled.
她故意作态, 咯咯地笑着, 行走时摆出一副撩人的模样。
3
- Medicine testing to elicit a particular response or reflex【医】（诱发反应或反射作用的）激发试验：
twenty patients had a high increase of serum gastrin after provocation with secretin.
促胰液素激发试验过后20位病人的血清胃泌素大增。
词源
late Middle English: from Old French，from Latin provocatio（n-），from the verb provocare （see PROVOKE）.