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pulse

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The definition of a pulse is a rhythmic beating in the arteries caused by the beating of the heart.

(noun)

An example of a pulse is the throbbing beat heard at the wrist.

See pulse in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the regular beating in the arteries, caused by the contractions of the heart
any beat, signal, vibration, etc. that is regular or rhythmical
the perceptible underlying feelings of the public or of a particular group
a variation, characterized by a rise, limited duration, and decline, of a quantity whose value normally is constant; specif.,
1. Elec. a brief surge of voltage or current
2. Radio a very short burst of electromagnetic waves

Origin: ME pous < OFr < L pulsus (venarum), beating (of the veins) < pulsus, pp. of pellere, to beat: see felt

intransitive verb pulsed, pulsing

to pulsate; throb

transitive verb

to cause to pulsate
to drive (an engine, etc.) by pulses
Elec. to apply pulses to
Radio to modify (an electromagnetic wave) by means of pulses

Related Forms:

pulser noun

noun

the edible seeds of peas, beans, lentils, and similar plants having pods
any leguminous plant

Origin: ME pous < OFr pouls < L puls (gen. pultis), a pottage made of meal or pulse, prob. < Gr poltos < IE base *pel-, dust, meal > L pollen, pulvis

See pulse in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The rhythmical throbbing of arteries produced by the regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck.
a. A regular or rhythmical beating.
b. A single beat or throb.
Physics
a. A brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity: a pulse of current; a pulse of radiation.
b. Any of a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by a brief sudden change in a quantity.
The perceptible emotions or sentiments of a group of people: “a man who had . . . his finger on the pulse of America” (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.)

intransitive verb pulsed pulsed, puls·ing, puls·es

To pulsate; beat: “The nation pulsed with music and proclamation, with rages and moral pretensions” (Lance Morrow).
Physics To undergo a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by brief, sudden changes in a quantity.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin pulsus

Origin: , from past participle of pellere, to beat; see pel-⁵ in Indo-European roots

noun