pulse

¹ American  

[puhls] / pʌls /

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.

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

4. a single stroke, vibration, or undulation.

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

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

7. a throb of life, emotion, etc.

8. vitality.

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

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verb (used without object)

• pulses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pulsed,
  past participle,  past
• pulsing
  present participle

1. to beat or throb; pulsate.

2. to beat, vibrate, or undulate.

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

verb (used with object)

• pulses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• pulsed,
  past participle,  past
• pulsing
  present participle

1. to cause to pulse.

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

pulse ² American  

[puhls] / pʌls /

noun

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

2. a plant producing such seeds.

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pulse ¹ British  

/ 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

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pulse ² British  

/ pʌls /

noun

1. physiol

   1. 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

   2. a single pulsation of the heart or arteries

2. physics electronics

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

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

   3. Less common name: impulse. ( as modifier )

      a pulse generator

3. 1. a recurrent rhythmic series of beats, waves, vibrations, etc

   2. any single beat, wave, etc, in such a series

4. bustle, vitality, or excitement

   the pulse of a city

5. the feelings or thoughts of a group or society as they can be measured

   the pulse of the voters

6. to be well-informed about current events

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verb

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

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

pulse Scientific  

/ 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.

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

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

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pulse Idioms  

1. see take the pulse of.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pulseless
  adjective
• unpulsing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• pulsing
  present
• pulsed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• pulse
  simple
• pulses
  simple
• have pulsed
  perfect
• has pulsed
  perfect
• am pulsing
  progressive
• are pulsing
  progressive
• is pulsing
  progressive
• have been pulsing
  perfect progressive
• has been pulsing
  perfect progressive

Past

• pulsed
  simple
• had pulsed
  perfect
• was pulsing
  progressive
• were pulsing
  progressive
• had been pulsing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will pulse
  simple
• will have pulsed
  perfect
• will be pulsing
  progressive
• will have been pulsing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of pulse¹

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”

Origin of pulse²

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

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Explanation

The word pulse has many shades of meaning, but most of them involve something characterized by short, rhythmic bursts. If you’re angry, the muscles in your jaw might pulse — meaning they contract quickly in short bursts. Pulse can be a noun that describes the rhythmic pumping of blood through your veins and arteries. You’ve probably had a nurse take your pulse as a way to measure your heart rate. Pulse can refer to other things that have a rhythmic beat, like the pulse of dance music or a pulse of flashing light. The verb describes something that throbs, literally or figuratively. Your blood will pulse through your veins, or a busy city may pulse with life.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pulse pulses pulsed pulsing

Huang's "defence of CoreWeave's financial position was enough to pull the NeoCloud complex off the floor, drag AI equities higher and give the broader market something resembling a pulse", wrote SPI Asset Management's Stephen Innes.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

When needed, it’s released in a 2-3 second pulse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

The “coastally trapped” aquatic pulse has been slithering up the coast for weeks, fascinating scientists and weather watchers as it marched across the equatorial Pacific before splitting upon hitting the coast of Peru.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The infrared technology is used in patients' bedrooms and can monitor breathing and pulse without staff having to enter the room.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Seven felt a surge of magic, warm and strong, pulse through her body as the amulets shone brightly and began to spin.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

“Heavy Metal” mostly leaned minimal, with spare electronics and occasional percussion, and here Mr. Winter’s piano is thick with chords and repeating pulses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

That will bring pulses of showery rain on Tuesday, perhaps turning heavier in some southern parts on Wednesday.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Over the coming days, the eruption continues in pulses as sections of the caldera collapse and new vents open.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

Data runs through the glass, in the form of pulses of light, at the speed of over 100,000 miles per second.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

I have to look hard, again, to make sure it’s her; I do this in pulses, quick flickers of the eyes, so no one will notice.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Fusion startup Xcimer Energy is working with RTX to develop pulsed laser weapons designed to shoot down drone swarms and missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Emma Robins, from Reading, says broccoli hidden in pesto pasta is a favourite for her three-year-old son Alfred, as well as veg pulsed into pasta sauces.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Mix with pulsed chickpeas and garlic for a creamier version of hummus.

From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2026

Though she initially was considered missing, the urgency to quickly find Guthrie pulsed through the first days of media coverage because of her heart condition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026

Intense heat pulsed across his body as he ran; sweltering wind from the left, cooler air from the right.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner

Florence and its surroundings move Muratov profoundly, especially because this region best expresses the 15th-century Renaissance, or Quattrocento, in which he senses “the beating of a great heart pulsing with pure and noble blood.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

The video, set to pulsing music, delivering a scathing critique of the system that he once tried to reform.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

And pulsing is no joke — one exercise left my calves shaking.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

The steady pulsing of milking machines mingled with a thumping musical beat as McAfee marched down the rows, pointing to their light pink udders.

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

Sometimes, when he stared at it long enough, his eyes sliding out of focus, he thought he could see into the metal and sense a pulsing, dormant potential.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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