Pulse Definition

pŭls

pulsed, pulses, pulsing

noun

pulses

The regular beating in the arteries, caused by the contractions of the heart.

Webster's New World

Any beat, signal, vibration, etc. that is regular or rhythmical.

Webster's New World

A single beat or throb.

American Heritage

A variation, characterized by a rise, limited duration, and decline, of a quantity whose value normally is constant.

Webster's New World

The perceptible underlying feelings of the public or of a particular group.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

pulsed, pulses, pulsing

To cause to pulsate.

Webster's New World

To pulsate; throb.

Webster's New World

To undergo a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by brief, sudden changes in a quantity.

American Heritage Medicine

To drive (an engine, etc.) by pulses.

Webster's New World

To apply pulses to.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

idiom

take the pulse of

To judge the mood or views of (a political electorate, for example):
The politician was able to take the pulse of the grass-roots voters.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Pulse

Singular:

pulse

Plural:

pulses

For spelling, the -e (on -lse) is so the end is pronounced /ls/, rather than /lz/ as in pulls, and does not change the vowel (‘u’). Compare else, false, convulse.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old French from Latin pulsus from past participle of pellere to beat pel-⁵ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin pulsus (“beat”), from pellere (“to drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *pel (“to drive, strike, thrust”).

From Wiktionary
Middle English pols, puls from Latin puls pottage of meal and pulse probably ultimately from Greek poltos

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition