pulse

1
[ puhls ]
See synonyms for: pulsepulsedpulsespulsing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the regular throbbing of the arteries, caused by the successive contractions of the heart, especially as may be felt at an artery, as at the wrist.

  2. a single pulsation, or beat or throb, of the arteries or heart.

  1. the rhythmic recurrence of strokes, vibrations, or undulations.

  2. a single stroke, vibration, or undulation.

  3. Electricity. a momentary, sudden fluctuation in an electrical quantity, as in voltage or current.

  4. Physics. a single, abrupt emission of particles or radiation.

  5. a throb of life, emotion, etc.

  6. the general attitude, sentiment, preference, etc., as of the public.

verb (used without object),pulsed, puls·ing.
  1. to beat or throb; pulsate.

  2. to beat, vibrate, or undulate.

  1. Physics. to emit particles or radiation periodically in short bursts.

verb (used with object),pulsed, puls·ing.
  1. to cause to pulse.

  2. Medicine/Medical. to administer (medication) in interrupted, often concentrated dosages to avoid unwanted side effects.

Origin of pulse

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pous(e), puls(e), from Old French pous, pulse, and Latin pulsus “a beat, stroke, throb,” noun use of past participle of pellere “to push, drive, strike”

Other words from pulse

  • un·puls·ing, adjective

Words Nearby pulse

Other definitions for pulse (2 of 2)

pulse2
[ puhls ]

noun
  1. the edible seeds of certain leguminous plants, as peas, beans, or lentils.

  2. a plant producing such seeds.

Origin of pulse

2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English puls, pols, from Old French pous, pouls, pols, from Latin puls “porridge; thick pap of meal”; see also poultice

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pulse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pulse (1 of 2)

pulse1

/ (pʌls) /


noun
  1. physiol

    • the rhythmic contraction and expansion of an artery at each beat of the heart, often discernible to the touch at points such as the wrists

    • a single pulsation of the heart or arteries

  2. physics electronics

    • a transient sharp change in voltage, current, or some other quantity normally constant in a system

    • one of a series of such transient disturbances, usually recurring at regular intervals and having a characteristic geometric shape

    • (as modifier): a pulse generator Less common name: impulse

    • a recurrent rhythmic series of beats, waves, vibrations, etc

    • any single beat, wave, etc, in such a series

  1. bustle, vitality, or excitement: the pulse of a city

  2. the feelings or thoughts of a group or society as they can be measured: the pulse of the voters

  3. keep one's finger on the pulse to be well-informed about current events

verb
  1. (intr) to beat, throb, or vibrate

  2. (tr) to provide an electronic pulse to operate (a slide projector)

Origin of pulse

1
C14 pous, from Latin pulsus a beating, from pellere to beat

Derived forms of pulse

  • pulseless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for pulse (2 of 2)

pulse2

/ (pʌls) /


noun
  1. the edible seeds of any of several leguminous plants, such as peas, beans, and lentils

  2. the plant producing any of these seeds

Origin of pulse

2
C13 pols, from Old French, from Latin puls pottage of pulse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pulse

pulse

[ pŭls ]


  1. The rhythmic expansion and contraction of the arteries as blood is pumped through them by the heart. The pulse can be felt at several parts of the body, as over the carotid and radial arteries.

  2. A dose of a medication or other substance given over a short period of time, usually repetitively.

    • A brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity, such as an electric current or field.

    • Any of a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by a brief sudden change in a quantity.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with pulse

pulse

see take the pulse of.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.