English Dictionary

Definition of “pulse”

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1pulse1 (pʌlsPronunciation for pulse1) 

Definitions

noun

  1. physiology 
    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. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a pulse generator Less common name impulse
    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. See keep one's finger on the pulse

verb

  1. (intr) to beat, throb, or vibrate
  2. (tr) to provide an electronic pulse to operate (a slide projector)

Alternative Forms

ˈpulseless adjective

Word Origin

C14 pous,  from Latin pulsus  a beating, from pellere to beat

2pulse2 (pʌlsPronunciation for pulse2) 

Definitions

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

Word Origin

C13 pols,  from Old French, from Latin puls pottage of pulse

Translations

  • British English: pulse Pronunciation for pulse Your pulse is the regular beating of blood through your body, which you can feel, for example, at your wrist or neck.His pulse raced, and he felt scared.pʌls NOUN His pulse raced, and he felt scared.
  • Spanish: pulso Pronunciation for pulso nm
  • French: pouls Pronunciation for pouls nm
  • German: Puls Pronunciation for Puls nm
  • Chinese: 脉搏Pronunciation for 脉搏 n
  • Arabic: نَبْضَةPronunciation for نَبْضَة n
  • Portuguese: pulsoPronunciation for pulso nm
  • Russian: пульсPronunciation for пульс nm
  • Croatian: pulsPronunciation for puls nm
  • Czech: tepPronunciation for tep nm
  • Danish: pulsPronunciation for puls nutr
  • Dutch: polsPronunciation for pols nm
  • Finnish: sykePronunciation for syke n
  • Greek: σφυγμόςPronunciation for σφυγμός nm
  • Italian: battito cardiacoPronunciation for battito cardiaco nm
  • Japanese: 脈拍Pronunciation for 脈拍 n
  • Korean: 맥박Pronunciation for 맥박 n
  • Norwegian: pulsPronunciation for puls nm
  • Polish: pulsPronunciation for puls nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: pulsoPronunciation for pulso nm
  • European Spanish: pulso Pronunciation for pulso nm
  • Swedish: pulsPronunciation for puls nutr
  • Thai: ชีพจรPronunciation for ชีพจร n
  • Turkish: nabızPronunciation for nabız n
  • Vietnamese: mạchPronunciation for mạch n

Usage examples

  • Timson lowered him without ceremony on to the deck as Parnell reached for his pulse.
    Lunnon-Wood, Mike, Let Not the Deep (1994)
  • There are several things you can do to self-monitor, like taking your resting pulse.
    Cycling Weekly (2005)
  • The device is set to operate when my pulse falls below 66 beats per minute.
    Ottawa Sun (2003)
  • American Miss Black told Liverpool Crown Court: `Her skin was grey and I could barely feel a pulse.
    Sun, News of the World (2000)
  • There was no fever, but her pulse was only a faint, thready beat.
    Alma Alexander, THE SECRETS OF JIN-SHEI (2004)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'P'

Related Terms

4 results

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