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
/ ˈɪmpʌls /
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
- on impulsespontaneously or impulsively
impulse
/ ĭm′pŭls′ /
- 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
The people of Canada, across the political board, are infuriated by Trump's audacious threats and they are not in any mood to cater to his insane impulses regardless of his tariff threats.
"It's very important to control your impulses while the game is going on," said the 36-year-old.
The impulse from volunteers is to give to those in need as much as they can carry when they stop by, but that’s not always possible.
We’ll later discover that, in line with surveillance-capitalist impulses, the company is not only watching but also cultivating product placement in dreams.
The question is, which of those two impulses is ascendant?
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse
