Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Impulse
1.
The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately.
All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical
impulse
. S. Clarke.
2.
The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.
3.
(Mech.)
The action of a force during a very small interval of time; the effect of such action;
as, the
. impulse
of a sudden blow upon a hard elastic body
Syn. – Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement; instigation.
Webster 1828 Edition
Impulse
IM'PULSE
,Noun.
1.
Force communicated; the effect of one body acting on another. Impulse is the effect of motion, and is in proportion to the quantity of matter and velocity of the impelling body.2.
Influence acting on the mind; motive. These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
3.
Impression; supposed supernatural influence on the mind. Meantime, by Jove's impulse, Mezentius armed,
Succeeded Turnus--
Definition 2024
Impulse
impulse
impulse
English
Noun
impulse (plural impulses)
- A thrust; a push; a sudden force that impels.
- S. Clarke
- All spontaneous animal motion is performed by mechanical impulse.
- S. Clarke
- A wish or urge, particularly a sudden one prompting action.
- The impulse to learn drove me to study night and day.
- When I saw the new dictionary, I couldn't resist the impulse to browse through it.
- Dryden
- These were my natural impulses for the undertaking.
- 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 20, in The Dust of Conflict:
- Tony's face expressed relief, and Nettie sat silent for a moment until the vicar said “It was a generous impulse, but it may have been a momentary one, […] .”
- (physics) The integral of force over time.
- The total impulse from the impact will depend on the kinetic energy of the bullet.
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
sudden force that impels
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wish
(physics) integral force over time
References
- impulse in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- impulse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- impulse in the Online Etymology Dictionary
Verb
impulse (third-person singular simple present impulses, present participle impulsing, simple past and past participle impulsed)
French
Pronunciation
Verb
impulse
- first-person singular present indicative of impulser
- third-person singular present indicative of impulser
- first-person singular present subjunctive of impulser
- first-person singular present subjunctive of impulser
- second-person singular imperative of impulser