pulsation

American  

[puhl-sey-shuhn] / pʌlˈseɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of pulsating; beating or throbbing.

2. a beat or throb, as of the pulse.

3. vibration or undulation.

4. a single vibration.

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pulsation British  

/ pʌlˈseɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of pulsating

2. physiol a rhythmic beating or pulsing esp of the heart or an artery

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Other Word Forms

• nonpulsation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pulsation

1375–1425; late Middle English pulsacioun < Latin pulsātiōn- (stem of pulsātiō ). See pulsate, -ion

Explanation

Pulsation is a throbbing, repeating rhythm, like the pulsation of your blood in your ears when you're running or the pulsation of music in a loud dance club. The pulsation of your heart is what pumps blood through your body — it moves rhythmically, expanding and contracting. Anything that throbs this way is also pulsation, like the when the car stereo is turned up so loud you can feel the beat of the music through the soles of your feet. Pulsation comes from the Latin pulsationem, "a beating or striking," and its root meaning "to thrust, strike, or drive."

Example Sentences

In addition to the fluid exchange promoted by APQ4 activity in astrocytes, another mechanism by which gamma waves promote glymphatic flow is by increasing the pulsation of neighboring blood vessels.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2024

In the opening “Future Blues,” listen for how the regular, rumbling waves of pulsation rub against trebly tendrils of wet, smacking sound.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2023

Red giants show a behaviour called pulsation, caused by changes in the area and temperature of the star's surface layers.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2020

Oral-B models use rotation and pulsation, so its brushes don’t buzz as intensely when the brush’s head touches your other teeth.

From Slate • Aug. 21, 2018

“A brief pulsation in the black hole of eternity. My advice to you—” “Wait and see,” I said.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner