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impulse

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im⋅pulse

  [im-puhls]
Use impulse in a Sentence
–noun
1. the influence of a particular feeling, mental state, etc.: to act under a generous impulse; to strike out at someone from an angry impulse.
2. sudden, involuntary inclination prompting to action: to be swayed by impulse.
3. an instance of this.
4. a psychic drive or instinctual urge.
5. an impelling action or force, driving onward or inducing motion.
6. the effect of an impelling force; motion induced; impetus given.
7. Physiology. a progressive wave of excitation over a nerve or muscle fiber, having either a stimulating or inhibitory effect.
8. 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.
9. Electricity. a single, usually sudden, flow of current in one direction.
–adjective
10. marked by or acting on impulse: an impulse buyer.
11. bought or acquired on impulse: To reduce expenses, shun impulse items when shopping.
Origin:
1640–50; < L impulsus pressure, impulse, equiv. to im- im- 1 + pul- (var. s. of pellere to push) + -sus, var. of -tus suffix of v. action
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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im·pulse   (ĭm'pŭls')   
n.  

    1. An impelling force; an impetus.

    2. The motion produced by such a force.

  2. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination: had an impulse to run away; an impulse of regret that made me hesitate; bought a hat on impulse.

  3. A motivating force or tendency: "Respect for the liberty of others is not a natural impulse in most men" (Bertrand Russell).

  4. Electronics A surge of electrical power in one direction.

  5. Physics The product obtained by multiplying the average value of a force by the time during which it acts. The impulse equals the change in momentum produced by the force in this time interval.

  6. Physiology The electrochemical transmission of a signal along a nerve fiber that produces an excitatory or inhibitory response at a target tissue, such as a muscle or another nerve.

adj.  Characterized by impulsiveness or acting on impulse: an impulse shopper; impulse buying.

[Latin impulsus, from past participle of impellere, to impel; see impel.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

impulse 
1432 (implied in impulsion) "an act of impelling, a thrust, push," from L. impulsus "a push against, pressure, shock," also "incitement, instigation," pp. of impellere (see impel). Meaning "stimulus in the mind arising from some state or feeling" first recorded 1647. Impulsive (1604) originally was in ref. to medicines that reduce swelling or tumors; sense of "rash" first recorded 1847.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: im·pulse
Pronunciation: 'im-"p&ls
Function: noun
1 : a wave of excitation transmitted through tissues and especially nervefibers and muscles that results in physiological activity or inhibition
2 a : a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usually unpremeditated action impulse … may have driven the defendant to the commission of the murderous act —B. N. Cardozo> b : a propensity or natural tendency usually otherthan rational impulse of self-expression —Havelock Ellis>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

impulse im·pulse (ĭm'pŭls')
n.

  1. A sudden pushing or driving force.

  2. A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination.

  3. The electrochemical transmission of a signal along a nerve fiber that produces an excitatory or inhibitory response at a target tissue.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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