Unable to resist the impulse, he glanced at the sea again.
He still couldn't understand the impulse that had made him confide in Cassandra.
Wade resisted an impulse to smile.
Synonyms: urge, longing, desire, drive More Synonyms of impulse
2. countable noun
An impulse is a short electrical signal that is sent along a wire or nerve or through the air, usually as one of a series.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An impulse buy or impulse purchase is something that you decide to buy when you see it, although you had not planned to buy it.
The curtains were an impulse buy.
4.
See on impulse
More Synonyms of impulse
impulse in British English
(ˈɪmpʌls)
noun
1.
an impelling force or motion; thrust; impetus
2.
a sudden desire, whim, or inclination
I bought it on an impulse
3.
an instinctive drive; urge
4.
tendency; current; trend
5. physics
a.
the product of the average magnitude of a force acting on a body and the time for which it acts
b.
the change in the momentum of a body as a result of a force acting upon it for a short period of time
6. physiology nerve impulse
7. electronics a less common word for pulse1 (sense 2)
8. on impulse
Word origin
C17: from Latin impulsus a pushing against, incitement, from impellere to strike against; see impel
impulse in American English
(ˈɪmˌpʌls)
noun
1.
a.
an impelling, or driving forward with sudden force
b.
an impelling force; sudden, driving force; push; thrust; impetus
c.
the motion or effect caused by such a force
2.
a.
incitement to action arising from a state of mind or some external stimulus
b.
a sudden inclination to act, usually without premeditation
c.
a motive or tendency coming from within
prompted by an impulse of curiosity
3. Electricity
a momentary surge in one direction of voltage or current
4. Mechanics
the change in momentum effected by a force, measured by multiplying the average value of the force by the time during which it acts
5. Physiology
the progressive wave of excitation over a muscle or nerve fiber, which causes or inhibits activity in the body
Word origin
L impulsus < pp. of impellere: see impel
impulse in Mechanical Engineering
(ɪmpʌls)
Word forms: (regular plural) impulses
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Mechanics and dynamics)
If an impulse is applied to an object, a force acts on it which lasts for a particular period of time.
When a bat hits a ball, an impulse is applied to the ball because the bat puts a force on the ball for a short time.
Forces applied over time create impulses.
If an impulse is applied to an object, a force acts on it which lasts for a particular period oftime.
impulse in Electrical Engineering
(ɪmpʌls)
Word forms: (regular plural) impulses
noun
(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Electrical power, Computing and control)
An impulse is a disturbance of the voltage waveform that is less than about one millisecond.
The motor impulse is sufficient to accelerate the round to 750 meters per second in 2.3 seconds.
When the system is subject to an impulse (or any signal of finite duration) it will respond with an output waveform whichlasts past the duration of the input.
An impulse is a disturbance of the voltage waveform that is less than about one millisecond.
Examples of 'impulse' in a sentence
impulse
This quality is also linked to having good impulse control.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Stick it on your forehead and it sends electrical impulses to calm you down or give you energy.
The Sun (2016)
It was useful after an impulse purchase became my saviour when I burned my back in the sun.
The Sun (2016)
Heavy drinkers had fewer neurons - nerve cells that transmit information - in the part of the brain that controls impulses.
The Sun (2016)
They are far less successful with those who lack control over their impulses.
Christianity Today (2000)
His study also found that people who shopped frequently were more likely to make impulse purchases.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You think you made an impulse buy?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The human brain contains millions of nerve cells which are continually receiving and sending out nerve impulses.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
Her concern was also driven by another impulse.
Amanda Mackenzie Stuart Consuelo & Alva: Love and Power in the Gilded Age (2005)
It was one of those impulse buys.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She resisted the impulse to lift the hand mirror from the table and touch up her eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The impulses and desires of the mother and partner have been gratified in this system.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Its lack of moving parts and use of electrical impulses put it beyond easy understanding.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Their rational mind was too busy to control their impulses.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Evidence suggests foods sold at impulse purchase points like checkouts experience higher sales.
The Sun (2013)
These impulse buys will really have to stop.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But its most important role is its balance with calcium in maintaining proper nerve and muscle impulses.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Do not resist your impulse to compliment the elephant.
Stanley Bing THROWING THE ELEPHANT (2002)
Electrical impulses are transmitted to the nerve endings in the ear via the implement.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
Some say these people simply have no impulse control.
The Sun (2013)
The worst simply mean an impulse buy and an extra card in your wallet.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This is not the sort of garden for impulse purchases of a single specimen from a plant fair.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's an essential manoeuvre for short cuts and for sudden shopping impulses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The outward, connecting impulse is just one source of enrichment on offer here.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
It begins with an impulse, a desire to disconnect.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
By understanding the impulse to diffuse responsibility, perhaps as individuals we will be more likely to act.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
His was an existence of impulse, of whim, of energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It's all very good to understand your impulses, but how do you deal with them?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
I am the very slave of circumstance And impulse - borne away with every breath!Lord ByronSardanapalus
To our strongest impulse, to the tyrant in us, not only our reason but also our conscience yieldsFriedrich NietzscheBeyond Good and Evil
Have no truck with first impulses for they are always generous onesCasimir, Comte de Montrond
In other languages
impulse
British English: impulse NOUN
An impulse is a sudden desire to do something.
Unable to resist the impulse, he glanced at the sea again.
American English: impulse
Brazilian Portuguese: impulso
Chinese: 冲动
European Spanish: impulso
French: impulsion
German: Impuls
Italian: impulso
Japanese: 衝動
Korean: 충동
European Portuguese: impulso
Latin American Spanish: impulso
British English: impulse ADJECTIVE
An impulse buy or impulse purchase is something that you decide to buy when you see it, although you had not planned to buy it.
The curtains were an impulse buy.
American English: impulse
Brazilian Portuguese: impulsivo
Chinese: 冲动
European Spanish: impulsivo
French: impulsif
German: Impuls-
Italian: impulsivo
Japanese: 衝動の
Korean: 충동
European Portuguese: impulsivo
Latin American Spanish: impulsivo
All related terms of 'impulse'
impulse buy
something bought when prompted by a whim on seeing the product displayed
on impulse
If you do something on impulse , you suddenly decide to do it, without planning it.
nerve impulse
the electrical wave transmitted along a nerve fibre , usually following stimulation of the nerve-cell body
impulse buying
the buying of retail merchandise prompted by a whim on seeing the product displayed
impulse turbine
a turbine in which the expansion of the fluid , often steam , is completed in a static nozzle , the torque being produced by the change in momentum of the fluid impinging on curved rotor blades
impulse purchase
something bought when prompted by a whim on seeing the product displayed
specific impulse
the ratio of the thrust produced by a rocket engine to the rate of fuel consumption : it has units of time and is the length of time that unit weight of propellant would last if used to produce one unit of thrust continuously
Chinese translation of 'impulse'
impulse
(ˈɪmpʌls)
n
(c/u) (= urge) 冲(衝)动(動) (chōngdòng) (种(種), zhǒng)
(c) (Elec) 脉(脈)冲(衝) (màichōng) (次, cì)
to have an impulse to do sth有做某事的冲(衝)动(動) (yǒu zuò mǒushì de chōngdòng)
to do sth on impulse一时(時)冲(衝)动(動)做某事 (yīshí chōngdòng zuò mǒushì)
to act on impulse凭(憑)一时(時)冲(衝)动(動)行事 (píng yīshí chōngdòng xíngshì)
1 (noun)
Definition
an instinctive drive
I resisted an impulse to smile.
Synonyms
urge
He had an urge to open a shop of his own.
longing
He felt a longing for the familiar.
desire
I had a strong desire to help and care for people.
drive
Hunger is one of the most basic and primitive drives of human behaviour.
wish
Clearly she had no wish for his company.
fancy
His interest was just a passing fancy.
notion
I had a whimsical notion to fly off to Rio that night.
yen (informal)
Mike had a yen to try cycling.
instinct
She has a strong instinct to care for others.
yearning
He spoke of his yearning for another child.
inclination
He had neither the time nor the inclination to think about it.
itch
an insatiable itch to switch from channel to channel
whim
We decided, more or less on a whim, to sail to Morocco.
compulsion
He felt a compulsion to talk about his sporting achievements all the time.
caprice
Dash had always been indulged in every caprice.
2 (noun)
She is a creature of impulse.
Synonyms
spontaneity
impetuosity
With characteristic impetuosity, he announced he was leaving school.
carelessness
The accident was caused by sheer carelessness.
irresponsibility
wildness
thoughtlessness
rashness
heedlessness
incautiousness
3 (noun)
Their impulse of broadcasting was for human rights.
Synonyms
force
slamming the door behind her with all her force
pressure
He may be putting pressure on her to agree.
push
movement
surge
motive
thrust
The main thrust of the film is its examination of religious values.
momentum
This campaign is really gaining momentum.
stimulus
catalyst
impetus
She needed a new impetus for her talent.
4 (noun)
the electrical impulse which keeps the heart beating
Synonyms
pulse
the repetitive pulse of the music
beat
the dance beats of the last two decades
current
wave
A new wave of settlers arrived in the region.
stroke
rhythm
His music fused the rhythms of jazz and classical music.
oscillation
phrase
See on impulse
Quotations
I am the very slave of circumstance And impulse - borne away with every breath! [Lord Byron – Sardanapalus]To our strongest impulse, to the tyrant in us, not only our reason but also our conscience yields [Friedrich Nietzsche – Beyond Good and Evil]Have no truck with first impulses for they are always generous ones [Casimir, Comte de Montrond]