impulse Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun an instinctive motive
urge.
- profound religious impulses
noun a sudden desire
caprice; whim.
- he bought it on an impulse
noun the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber
neural impulse; nerve impulse; nervous impulse.
- they demonstrated the transmission of impulses from the cortex to the hypothalamus
noun (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
pulsing; pulsation; pulse.
- the pulsations seemed to be coming from a star
noun the act of applying force suddenly
impetus; impulsion.
- the impulse knocked him over
noun an impelling force or strength
momentum.
- the car's momentum carried it off the road

L. impulsus, fr. impellere. See Impel.

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.
The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.
(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.
A mental force which simply and directly urges to action; hasty inclination; sudden motive; momentary or transient influence of appetite or passion; propension; incitement; as, a man of good impulses; passion often gives a violent impulse to the will.
These were my natural impulses for the undertaking. Dryden.
Syn. -- Force; incentive; influence; motive; feeling; incitement; instigation.