Thesaurus: impulse

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Definitions

1. n. The act of impelling, or driving onward with sudden force; impulsion; especially, force so communicated as to produced motion suddenly, or immediately.
2. n. The effect of an impelling force; motion produced by a sudden or momentary force.
3. n. 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.
4. n. 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.
5. v. t. To impel; to incite.
6. n. an instinctive motive
7. n. a sudden desire
8. n. the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber
9. n. (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
10. n. the act of applying force suddenly
11. n. an impelling force or strength
12. 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. 4. 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. To impel; to incite. [Obs.] Pope.