Advertisement
Advertisement
impulse
[im-puhls]
noun
the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc..
to act under a generous impulse; to strike out at someone from an angry impulse.
sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action.
to be swayed by impulse.
an instance of this.
a psychic drive or instinctual urge.
an impelling action or force, driving onward or inducing motion.
the effect of an impelling force; motion induced; impetus given.
Physiology.a progressive wave of excitation over a nerve or muscle fiber, having either a stimulating or inhibitory effect.
Mechanics.the product of the average force acting upon a body and the time during which it acts, equivalent to the change in the momentum of the body produced by such a force.
Electricity.a single, usually sudden, flow of current in one direction.
adjective
marked by or acting on impulse.
an impulse buyer.
bought or acquired on impulse.
To reduce expenses, shun impulse items when shopping.
impulse
/ ˈɪʌ /
noun
an impelling force or motion; thrust; impetus
a sudden desire, whim, or inclination
I bought it on an impulse
an instinctive drive; urge
tendency; current; trend
physics
the product of the average magnitude of a force acting on a body and the time for which it acts
the change in the momentum of a body as a result of a force acting upon it for a short period of time
physiol See nerve impulse
electronics a less common word for pulse 1
spontaneously or impulsively
impulse
A sudden flow of electrical current in one direction.
An electrical signal traveling along the axon of a neuron. Nerve impulses excite or inhibit activity in other neurons or in the tissues of the body, such as muscles and glands.
The change of momentum of a body or physical system over a time interval in classical mechanics, equal to the force applied times the length of the time interval over which it is applied.
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of impulse1
Example Sentences
Of the impulse to take a photo, to grab the moment, we hear Cartier-Bresson excitedly tell Turner-Seed, “Life is once, forever.”
As for those impulses to harm himself, they wound up paying off for Joel after he checked out of a facility he had checked himself into after the second suicide attempt.
“Once again, we see President Trump’s irrational impulses as he tries to institute a discriminatory travel ban,” said Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California.
The impulse, he says, is both emotional and tactical.
By contrast, Walz gleefully tore into Trump, saying his only animating impulses were corruption and greed.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse