Pulse Definition

pŭls
pulsed, pulses, pulsing
noun
pulses
The regular beating in the arteries, caused by the contractions of the heart.
Webster's New World
Any beat, signal, vibration, etc. that is regular or rhythmical.
Webster's New World
A single beat or throb.
American Heritage
A variation, characterized by a rise, limited duration, and decline, of a quantity whose value normally is constant.
Webster's New World
The perceptible underlying feelings of the public or of a particular group.
Webster's New World
verb
pulsed, pulses, pulsing
To cause to pulsate.
Webster's New World
To pulsate; throb.
Webster's New World
To undergo a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by brief, sudden changes in a quantity.
American Heritage Medicine
To drive (an engine, etc.) by pulses.
Webster's New World
To apply pulses to.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
idiom
take the pulse of
  • To judge the mood or views of (a political electorate, for example):

    The politician was able to take the pulse of the grass-roots voters.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Pulse

Noun

Singular:
pulse
Plural:
pulses

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Pulse

  • take the pulse of

Origin of Pulse

  • For spelling, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin pulsus from past participle of pellere to beat pel-5 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin pulsus (“beat”), from pellere (“to drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *pel (“to drive, strike, thrust”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English pols, puls from Latin puls pottage of meal and pulse probably ultimately from Greek poltos

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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