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impulse

/ˈɪmpʌls/noun2 syllables

Impulse means: the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber.

Synonyms for impulse12

noun, as in the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber

nerve impulse, nervous impulse, neural impulse

noun, as in (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)

pulsation, pulsing, pulse

noun, as in a sudden desire

caprice, whim

noun, as in the act of applying force suddenly

impulsion, impetus

noun, as in an instinctive motive

noun, as in an impelling force or strength

momentum

What does impulse mean?6

noun

1

the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber“they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus”

2

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)“the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star”

3

a sudden desire“he bought it on an impulse”

4

the act of applying force suddenly“the impulse knocked him over”

5

an instinctive motive“profound religious impulses”

6

an impelling force or strength“the car's momentum carried it off the road”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Impulse in a sentence

  • He followed an impulse not to board the ship, and thus escaped the disaster.sundown
  • He went out, yielding to a sudden impulse.AlanF_US
  • Maybe the impulse was working upon her subconscious.unknown
  • Try not to buy anything on impulse today.unknown
  • I barely restrained the impulse to strike him.Eldad
  • I felt an impulse to cry out loud.CK
  • He told his wife not to buy on impulse.CK
  • He fell prey to an impulse to steal.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of impulse

as a noun

plural
impulses